Erving Severino has his mind focused on fixing vehicles inside his auto body shop.
It’s great customer service, but it allowed a man to get away with stealing close to $800 in donations.
“He came right behind. I don’t know how I missed that,” Severino told NBC10 Boston.
The Lawrence business owner had to check out surveillance and couldn’t believe his eyes. The suspect walked into the Independent Import Specialist on Saturday morning, looked around and grabbed the donation jar.
Not one employee saw the man get away with the money.
“It kills me. I’m here at 7 o’clock. Sometimes 8 o’clock I’m still here with the door closed, trying to get things done,” Severino said.
The jar full of donations were for a Vietnam veteran. Severino’s organization, Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 2, was raising the money for the vet who lost the roof of his home in Puerto Rico.
U.S. & World
“You play around with my organization, it’s personal. You’re dealing with America,” Severino said.
A new donation cup has been filled with more than $500 dollars. Severino’s not holding a grudge against the suspect. All he wants is an apology and the money returned.
“If he needs some help, I’ll give to help him, too. It’s all about helping,” Severino said.
And Severino says they are flying out that veteran to receive the donations.
Meanwhile, police want your help finding the suspect. If you have any information, you're asked to call authorities.
