Video shows woman walking into veteran's home, allegedly stealing paintings

BOSTON — Police are investigating after a woman walked into a veteran's home in South Boston last weekend and stole three paintings.

The doors at Patriot Homes, a non-profit on Athens Street that offers subsidized housing to veterans, are always locked. Residents say they don't know how she was able to get inside.

Some of the alleged theft was captured on surveillance video. The woman is shown inside the building, walking up the stairs Sunday night, and then moments later, walking down the stairs with three paintings tucked under her arm.

Residents at the home believe the theft was planned because the woman appeared to know exactly what she was looking for. They said she is not a resident and no one recognizes her.

They also don't think it was an honest mistake. "She came here and she stole from us," said Mark McKunes, who lives at Patriot Homes, and described the theft as "act of just selfishness."

McKunes said just watching the video makes him angry.

"She's not trying to hide her face or duck down or anything like that," he said. "She just knew what she was doing, knew what she was stealing."

McKunes says the walls will stay empty until the woman is caught or the paintings are returned. "We're a tight-knit community. We all know each other," he said. "We all kind of served together, different branches, different wars but we came from the same place, and she violated our space."

A Boston police spokesperson said they reviewing the surveillance video but could not comment further. However, there is no suspect information at this time.

Cox Media Group