MYFOXNY.COM -
Paralympian Cheryl Leitner knew right away something was wrong when she got home from London. The front door was open. Then she discovered that the back door had been kicked in and the house had been ransacked.
"It's just sad. It's sad to know that somebody could do this," Leitner said.
Leitner is a track athlete and competed in the 100 and 200 races in her wheelchair.
After spending 3 weeks in London to compete, she came home last weekend to find out she'd been robbed.
"It took all the excitement out of it and kinda made it a sad situation because everything I earned was taken," Leitner said.
$30,000 worth of jewelry and cash was taken from the Toms River home she shares with her mother. Gone were sentimental items she brought back from previous games including gold ring from the 2008 games in Beijing and another one from the Sidney games.
All the thieves left behind were empty jewelry boxes.
Leitner's mother was heartbroken.
"I just cannot believe anybody can do this to anyone, let alone someone who's worked so hard," Sandy Kipp said.
The pair believes one of the thieves is someone they know; someone, who at one time, they allowed to stay in their home. Cops say a couple matching the thieves' description tried to sell some of the stolen items at a local coin store- but weren't successful..
Toms River police say the store owner was suspicious.
"He immediately observed these individuals were very suspicious, very nervous and at that time he did not make the transaction," Det. Mark Bajada said.
Now, the mother and daughter are pleading with the burglars to return their stuff..
"Put it in a bag, throw it over the fence, mail it back, whatever they have to do," Kipp says.
