Police aren't sure how the thieves made it inside the facility; there are no signs of forced entry. There's no broken glass, but plenty of broken hearts.
"We've painted this room piece by piece. We've gotten donations just to make it pretty and heartwarming for our kids and our participants, and it doesn't look like that right now," Down Syndrome Association of Houston Director Alejandra Lima said.
It's difficult for Lima to see the place many, including herself, call their second home. Early Wednesday morning, thieves ransacked the Down Syndrome Association of Houston resource center and stole about $10,000 worth of equipment.
"This classroom also got hit a little bit. All of our technology is gone," Lima said.
Two smart TV is now gone, so are 13 laptops.
"Monitors are broken, of course not usable," she said.
Much of the equipment was recently donated. All of it was being used to help the more than 30 adults with Down syndrome who come here to learn basic life skills.
"People with Down syndrome are visual learners so anything that is visual to them helps a lot," Lima said. "It's all gone, it's in pieces if it's here."
The missing equipment was one thing. Having to explain what happened to those who benefit from this office was even more difficult.
"Do our kids have to worry? Can it happen again? Can it happen when you're here? So for parents that's kind of scary," mother and volunteer Brenda Bearden said.
And for the students, they're equally as sad.
"It's my home," student Kristen Bearden said.
Houston police are still investigating.
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