A family still reeling from the sudden death of a loved one is dealing with another crisis.

Luis "Macho" Diaz died this week of an apparent heart attack. His family is trying to raise money for his funeral. But they say someone stole a donation bucket containing several hundred dollars from a bodega on Noble Avenue.

"It's hard to believe," says Salena DeJesus. "My family would never do that to someone. For someone to do that to us, it's messed up."

The family says Diaz lived with his mom, whom he was very close to. They say she is grief-stricken and unable to imagine life without her son.

A family friend, Albert Benejan Grejales, is pleading for whoever took the money to return it, and says there will be no questions asked. He says things are hard enough for the family right now.

Police say they are investigating the theft and will be examining surveillance video from inside and around the store.

Anyone who would like to donate to Diaz's funeral fund can click here.