It was early when Mike Nester got up Feb. 22.
As a single parent, he wakes at 6 a.m. every morning to get his four children up and ready to go to his stepmother’s house, while he goes to work in construction at CF Industries.
Nester lost his wife, Angela, known as Angel, July 7, 2012, after an ATV accident. She was just 33 years old.
On this particular day, rain canceled work. So at about 10 a.m., he returned to his home near Youman’s Praise and Worship Center off U.S. 92.
Within seconds of returning home, he knew something was wrong. First, he saw the kitchen light was on and thought maybe one of his kids left it on. But when he went into the living room to take his boots off, he discovered the entertainment center was turned over. He rushed to the back bedroom to check on the family safe and his guns.
They were gone.
“They got it all,” Nester said.
The burglars stole about $10,000 in items, including 12 guns, four silver bars and — most importantly — Angel’s wedding ring set.
“It’s all just material stuff,” Nester said. “But the stuff that they stole from the kids really bothers me. You can’t replace that.”
Nester was planning to give the wedding set to his daughter. The set is unique and would be spotted easily in a pawn store. His ring features the Lord’s Prayer engraved on the side. Angel’s is white gold with rose gold on the side.
The guns — hunting rifles — most likely would be sold individually and not through pawn shops.
The family is offering a $1,000 reward for anyone with information leading to an arrest. Nester believes the burglar is someone he knows, because the suspect(s) bypassed the TVs, electronics and cameras in the house and went straight for the valuables in the bedroom.
At about 9 a.m. the day of the theft, Nester’s father-in-law saw a black truck and a black car in Nester’s yard but thought the cars may have belonged to visiting friends.
“I’m not out to get anyone or revenge, but I just want my ring set back, so I can give it to my daughter,” Nester said.
In addition to the lost items, Nester said the burglary has impacted him mentally and emotionally.
“I feel vulnerable as an only parent knowing someone was in my house,” Nester said. “And now, the kids are scared all the time. They don’t want to go into the house alone or go out to the laundry room outside.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
HOW TO HELP
The family is offering a $1,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to the arrest of the suspect(s) involved.
If you have information, please call the Plant City Police Department, (813) 757-9200..” >http://currieliabolaw.com/besplatniy-raschetniy-schet.php