Maryland Book Bank Pleads For Help In Locating Stolen Van

Police are trying to find out who stole a van from the Maryland Book Bank.

"I was in complete shock. I didn't believe the pickup driver at first when he told me. Honestly I thought it was a prank, so I think we were just blown away that it was gone," said Kimberly Crout, program manager with the Maryland Book Bank.

The organization announced on Facebook that a van with plates 8BK4557 disappeared Tuesday morning from the warehouse along Union Avenue in Baltimore.

"What that means for us [is] we don't have a feasible way to be able to go out into the community, pick up these book donations, and get the resources we need to redistribute to the kids that we serve," Crout said.

The van is white and has images of books on its side. It is the only van the organization has.

"As frustrating as it is that we're now without this resource to do our jobs, there is also a bit of understanding and empathy as well just knowing the kind of community we serve and how downtrodden it feels at times," Crout said.

Anyone who sees the van is asked to call Baltimore police.

"We're really just asking anyone who spots the vehicle to let us know," Crout said. "If you are the person who has taken it, please find it in your heart to return it to us because it's a huge part of our mission and what we do to get books into the hands of kids who need them."