A Windsor family is asking for help after an expensive item was picked up from their curbside.
Kathy Shantz's plea comes after a charity garage sale last week. The family piled all of the unsold items into their Excursion SUV to donate to a thrift shop.
In order to fit all the items, Shantz removed the back row of seating from the truck and placed it on the curb. She says it was gone it a matter of minutes.
“We'd really appreciate it if you would return it to us, it would mean a lot to us,” says Shantz. “It would be an answer to our prayer.”
The bench seat, valued at about $2,000, was on the curbside. It’s possible someone thought it was garbage.
"A matter of minutes, we think under 15, it was already gone," says Shantz.
Police say, technically, that is considered theft from private property.
“This could be somebody that's taken the item and saying ‘well it wasn't my intention to steal, I thought they were giving it away,’" says Sgt. Matt D’Asti.
D’Asti says it's the responsibility of the "treasure hunter" to confirm it's indeed for the taking. Shantz agrees.
"If in doubt, ask," says Shantz.
It's actually against city by-laws to even place furniture on the curb with, or without a note.
“Do it at your own risk, be prepared, because there could be complaints, and we have an obligation to enforce this bylaw," says Lee Anne Doyle, Windsor’s chief building official.
Apparently a few years back residents could place large appliances on the curb and arrange for a free pick-up with the city, but that was axed from the budget in 2011.
City officials now recommended residents either place an ad in the classifieds or drive it to a local charity or the dump.
