WILSON, N.C. — As Hurricane Frances heads toward the southeastern United States, thieves took advantage of storm preparations.

Someone broke into the Red Cross storage warehouse in Wilson County and stole hurricane shelter supplies. The thieves took generators, fans and lights.

The thieves even stole dozens of cots used for three shelters in Wilson and Greene counties.

"The elderly and physically handicapped that need cots, they're not going to have them," said disaster chairman Bud Cayton.

Volunteers planned to load all the gear into trailers by the weekend.

"It's going to be devastating to us. This timing is not good at all," said Debra Turner, director of the Wilson-Greene County Chapter of the Red Cross.

The Wilson County Red Cross chapter said it cannot afford to replace the supplies. Officials are hoping to get donations from the community before the storm.