COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A German Village bar owner is the latest victim to come forward after Pride flags were stolen from homes and now a business in the neighborhood over the weekend.
Many of the thefts were caught on camera, and now the owner of Rumours Bar on the corner of Parsons and Stewart avenues, said the business was also hit between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. Sunday.
Jackie Sansavera, the owner of Rumours, said three people in a silver minivan were seen driving past the building only to stop, hop out, and steal eight semi-circle Pride flags hanging on the bar’s fence. The theft, which last only seconds, was caught on camera.
Sansavera said before the bar opened for business Sunday, community members had stepped in and replaced the stolen flags. She said complete strangers from out of state who alerted her that they were sending Pride-related items through Amazon to ensure Rumours was properly outfitted for this Saturday’s Pride March in Downtown.
The generosity was overwhelming, she said.
“Sometimes you forget — even though people tell you all the time — what a great community we are together; not only this place, but all the other places, so to see it happen was very overwhelming and fulfilling,” Sansavera said.
Columbus police said there is a police report related to flag thefts but had no suspect information to share as of Monday evening.