Urgent: Local Rescue Faces Break-In Attempt, Community Rallying

UPDATE: A local animal rescue, the Ten Lives Club, is urgently seeking community assistance after an alleged break-in attempt was caught on camera early Saturday morning. The shocking incident, which has left staff members shaken, highlights growing concerns for the safety of the facility and its animals.

Located on Lake Shore Road in Hamburg, New York, the Ten Lives Club is a dedicated cat rescue and adoption group. Founder and Executive Director Marie Edwards was out of town when she received a notification from her Blink Camera app, alerting her to the alarming situation unfolding at her rescue.

“I was appalled,” Edwards stated. “It was very scary to see the camera and the people. I don’t even believe they were kids; I think they were 18- to 20-year-olds, starting to walk over to our property.”

The surveillance footage reveals a group of four individuals, some wearing masks and hoods, attempting to enter the Ten Lives Club building. They also allegedly targeted a neighboring building that has been vacant for some time. Edwards emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We’re in negotiations to purchase it right now. We don’t need any damage or anything broken or our animals hurt.”

Fortunately, the intruders were unsuccessful in breaking in, but they did manage to destroy two security cameras after noticing them. “They reached up to one of the cameras and tried to take it down,” Edwards explained. “They got some footage of their faces, so hopefully, the police can work with that.”

The incident has deeply affected the staff, with Community Development Manager Kelly Sinclair expressing her disappointment: “The fact that someone, or multiple people, would try and break in and possibly jeopardize the well-being of our cats is just heartbreaking and we’re pretty angry, to be honest.”

In response to this incident, the rescue is ramping up security measures around the building. Edwards confirmed, “We have somebody going over and putting up boards on all of the windows. We’re going to be extra vigilant here at our building. We’ve let all of our staff know to make sure everything is checked before they walk out. Make sure the lights are on.”

Additionally, the Ten Lives Club is looking to upgrade its camera system to prevent future incidents and is inviting the community to support them. Donations can be made through their official website.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the break-in attempt or who may recognize the individuals captured on video to contact the Hamburg Police Department at 716-364-2035.

As this situation develops, the Ten Lives Club remains focused on ensuring the safety of their animals and the facility, with the support of the community playing a crucial role.