Thieves Steal $15K in Playthings from Toys for Tots Bin

The hot toys, valued at more than $15,000, had been stored in a rented and locked POD storage container in a well-lit parking lot in Burlington, Massachusetts. The Burlington Police have teamed up with the Massachusetts State Police to crack the case.

The theft apparently occurred early Saturday morning, December 18^th.

Law enforcement agents discovered damage to the storage crate, indicating evidence of forced entry. Inside the unit, cheaper toys seemed to have been left behind, with pricier playthings removed by the thieves.

Nearby, a second storage unit appeared to have been damaged somewhat as well, as if the burglars had tried to break into this crate as well. The second unit contained donated toys collected by the Massachusetts State Police.

"This is not just a crime against the PODs company or the Massachusetts State Police, the United States Marine Corps or even the administrators of this wonderful program, who have worked so hard to collect these toys," commented Colonel Marian J. McGovern, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police.

"More importantly, this is a despicable crime against the generous people who donated these toys and against the hundreds of children in need, who would have received these gifts and who now will not," Colonel McGovern continued. "The State Police and the Burlington Police will do everything we can to find who did this and try to recover these toys."

The Massachusetts Toys for Tots campaign ended December 17^th.

The Bay State toy thieves struck strategically on the morning after Toys for Tots donation collections ended for the 2010 holiday season. At this time, the storage unit was as full as it would possibly become this Christmas.

In fact, the Massachusetts State Police had recently accepted a huge toy donation from The Disney Store at Northshore Mall, located in Peabody, Massachusetts.

After the crime occurred, Massachusetts State Police staffers indicated that toys and financial donations would still be accepted at the State Police Barracks.

What is Toys for Tots?

Since 1947, the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program has collected donated toys for distribution to needy children at Christmas time. Originally, Toys for Tots accepted new and used playthings, but the philanthropic outreach now accepts only new unwrapped toys. The playthings are passed along to children who might not otherwise receive Christmas presents.

The Toys for Tots concept was created by Diane Hendricks, wife of Major Bill Hendricks, a U.S. Marine Corps Reservist.

Toys for Tots donations may be dropped off at numerous locations across the United States, and online listings are available. Toys may also be purchased for donation online, through such websites as Babiesrus.com, BabyUniverse.com, eToys.com, FAO.com and Toysrus.com.