Employees at a wildlife rescue center on the East End say they're devastated after someone broke in and stole $10,000 in prizes for an upcoming fundraiser.

Cheryl Steinhauer, the director of development at the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays, says the manila folder filled with gift certificates was taken off her desk. She says she suspects someone pried open the center's door and the door to her office with a knife sometime after midnight on Wednesday.

The certificates were going to be the prizes at a silent auction on May 16 for the wildlife center's Spring Fling fundraiser and at another fundraiser in June. The money raised helps the sick and injured wildlife treated at the center. Steinhauer says the center's donation jar filled with $50 in bills and change was also stolen.

Steinhauer is pleading for the person who took the prizes to return them. In the meantime, most of the businesses that donated gift certificates have offered to replace them.