BOSTON — Police are searching for a thief who stole nearly a dozen pairs of donated sneakers and athletic items from two Boston Marathon bombing survivors.

WHDH-TV reports that the victims told police the items were in a car in downtown Boston. They were going to give them to a team of survivors who plan to run in next week’s marathon. The victims told the station they were hoping to surprise the runners after Wednesday’s “One Boston Day” ceremony, but discovered their items were missing.

The victims told police that the thief left a note that said “from me to you” with a smiley face and a heart.

One of the victims, Doug Julian, calls the theft “really devastating.”