SUFFOLK
Someone decided to steal Christmas from some needy children.
Digit al cameras, MP3 players, watch and wallet sets and six brand-new bikes disappeared from a Toys for Tots distribution center.
Maj. Cal Clatterbuck of the Salvation Army noticed the dent as soon as he arrived Monday morning. He and John Woleben, who coordinates Suffolk Toys for Tots, had picked up 15 bikes the day after Thanksgiving. Clatterbuck last saw them in their boxes on a cart when he left after wrapping gifts last Saturday evening.
He probably wouldn't have noticed one or two missing, he said. He might have let it go if he had.
"One bike for their kid, maybe I can understand," Clatterbuck said. "When you take six, it's not right."
The theft was reported to Suffolk police Thursday. The stolen gifts were purchased for older children, who, Clatterbuck said, got overlooked last Christmas. "That's who
suffers for all this."
There was no sign of forced entry at the Suffolk center, where Woleben estimates more than $1,000 in lost donations. Toys for Tots has since swapped the locks.
"How could anybody take toys from needy children?" Woleben said. "This is the time of year when people are supposed to be giving."
Clatterbuck said he has set up distribution centers all over the country. "I've never had any experience like this," he said.
It happens at least once a year, said Bill Grein, vice president for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.
People pose as collectors. Natural disasters ruin collection sites. More often, though, folks steal the presents, Grein said. A thief swiped hundreds of gifts from a Tennessee distribution center this season, he said.
"I'm never surprised," Grein said. "Sometimes I think, hopefully they are in more need than the people we're helping."
The Suffolk center had hoped to serve some 4,000 children this season - 800 more from last year.
"Sometimes," Grein said, "you just roll your sleeves up and go back out."
Kristin Davis, (757) 222-5555, kristin.davis@pilotonline.com
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Two Different Stories, Not Taken Sides,
There was no sign of forced entry at the Suffolk center, where Woleben estimates more than $1,000 in lost donations. Toys for Tots has since swapped the locks.<<<<
gotta go with suew on this one
having been raised by older and more traditional parents with values...I find as a 25 year old that I am NOT in the norm by having even a shred of general empathy, respect, and consideration. Just look at the Black Friday trampling at Wal-Mart! There is a new level of disregard and amoral people out there and I do believe it is largely due to a sore lack of quality parenting in this country. I AM going to raise my child with morals but it's sad that I feel sick when I think about how this world will be when she's my age. How corrupt will a general mass be then??? However I digress, this is despicable and though not likely, I hope they find the person who would steal from needy children. Toys for Tots is such a wonderful organization and it's a real shame in particular to think this could have been an inside job but it wouldn't be all that shocking. :(
gimme gimme gimme
Why are you surprised? Somewhere we've raised a generation that has absolutely no ethics when it comes to something they want. (Notice I didn't say something they need.) You have it, they want it. They will lie, cheat, steal or even kill to get it. They take from the "have not's" as often as they take from the "have's" because they don't care who has it if they want it.
Who raised these people? Who taught them this set of values? It can't be blamed solely on society. Parents have either taught these values, or have not taught any at all.
To take from children, especially children who won't have ANY Christmas without groups like Toys for Tots, etc., well, there is a special place in Hades waiting just for you.
Inside Job
Well, there was no forced entry so what does that tell you about the employees in that warehouse?
NO FORCED ENTRY....
That narrows the suspect field down quite a bit. Start checking who has a key! As if life wasn't depressing enough.
Sheez..
If they have to steal, steal from someone who has money, not little kids for crying out loud.
Insiders
No forced entry? Looks like an inside job to me.
Stolen Toys for Tots!
Who allowed the Grinch to walk off with toys people donated with their hard-earned money? Someone is respsonsible for either not securing the property adequately or allowing an inside job. Either way, this is totally unacceptable!