The senior citizens at Auburn's Mercy Apartments were reunited with their stolen grill and given a new one by concerned community members Thursday morning.

Betty Schwartz, a resident at the apartments, said a new grill was anonymously donated to the complex, and that someone had tipped off the Auburn Police Department that the stolen grill was at the nearby Melone Village Apartments.

“We have two grills now,” Schwartz said. “Someone bought us a new grill. We don't know who it was. We were not allowed to go outside and see while they dropped it off. Everyone here is so excited and happy.”

A $182 grill, which the residents spent eight months saving for, was stolen on June 28 just prior to the complex's July 3 barbecue.

The barbecue was salvaged after an apartment employee offered the residents her grill to use that day.

Police said a resident at Melone Village called police to report that they saw a grill next to a trash bin matching the description of the one stolen from the Mercy Apartments.

The grill has since been returned to its grateful owners and there are currently no suspects, police said.

“I want to thank everyone for every thing they have done ... the police, the public, everyone that helped put faith back into us,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz said she also received another $250 contribution to buy the senior citizens a Nintendo Wii and the game Wii Sports in order to keep the residents active.

“We are going to send out thank you notes to everyone,” Schwartz said. “We are so happy.”