Update: Loaded moving van stolen from family in Modesto is recovered — in Hayward
A family of six that has relocated from San Jose to Manteca got an awful welcome to the area.
While Lorenzo and Brandy Sereno and their four children were staying with family in Modesto, their 20-foot moving van was stolen Thursday night, they said. The theft occurred on O’Farrell Avenue, which is east of Sunrise Avenue and runs between Floyd and Tokay avenues.
According to the time stamp on the doorbell camera footage that caught the theft, it happened about 11:20 p.m. Brandy Sereno told The Bee on Monday that the van has been located by police in Hayward.
The family just bought a home in Manteca. The Serenos, including boys ages 8 and 11 and girls 3 and 7, were staying in Modesto so they didn’t have to drive from San Jose when the house keys were ready, Sereno said.
Pretty much everything the family owns was in the van. “It was all our furniture, my kids’ clothes and toys, and everything,” she said, adding that she hadn’t even broken the news to the kids as of Sunday morning.
The Serenos won’t know what’s been stolen until they get to Hayward and into the tow yard, where the van is stored. A police officer told her husband that it looks like the thieves ransacked their belongings, pulling things out of the truck, taking what they wanted and tossing the remainder back in. At least some of the furniture is broken.
Trying to think of property that might show up for sale online, she said belongings include a treadmill, a lot of Cricut craft supplies, a collection of Loungefly Disney mini-backpacks and the kids’ Razor electric scooters.
“The more I think about what was in there, like my wedding albums, my kids’ baby albums, my whole house was in there,” Sereno said Sunday. “I know that everything’s replaceable eventually. Like my pictures, I know that I can replace them with new memories.”
She said she’s praying the thieves didn’t bother with things that have only sentimental value. She carefully organized all the belongings when packing, and clearly labeled the boxes. “Hopefully they see boxes labeled “photos” and just leave them in there.”
One bit of good news is that Hayward police did see family photos among what was left, Sereno said Monday.
Making the theft worse, Sereno said she’d nearly finished her Christmas shopping already, and those purchases also were in the van. They included Disney “Zombies 2” dolls, Lego sets, a Nickelodeon slime kit, a “Frozen” vanity and baby dolls and clothes, she said.
Anyone who has information on the theft is encouraged to call the Modesto Police Department at 209-572-9500 or Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Tips also can be submitted via www.stancrimetips.org.
“Now they have this house with nothing to put in it,” notes the summary of a gofundme.com page set up by a friend to help the Serenos. Titled “U-Haul stolen from family of 6 moving,” it is raising money to replace the stolen belongings.
This story was originally published November 15, 2020 at 4:51 PM.
