These are the last distribution days before Christmas at Toys For Tots in Edgewood. There is sorting and reorganizing the storage space. Then, of course, one of the best parts is handing out gifts to families in need.
Volunteers have been distributing toys since Dec. 17. A few days ago they started noticing the selection on the shelves was dwindling faster than they were handing toys out.
"I said nobody gave it away. Nobody else gave it away. So Terry said 'I told you someone is coming in here and taking stuff'. That's when it made a believer out of me," Gene Wlock, Harford County Coordinator for Toys For Tots, said.
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A Darth Vader model was gone between the time the volunteers packed up Friday night and the time they came back Saturday morning.
About 40 to 50 collectible Hess trucks were nowhere to be found either. Police estimate the items stolen are worth about $1000.
"The thing that baffles my mind is that it's a charity. We give this stuff away. Ask. We'll give you anything you want. Why? There's no reason to steal it," Wlock told ABC2.
According to the Harford County Sheriff's Office, there was no sign of forced entry at the storage location off Pulaski Highway.
"Definitely based on the physical evidence it appears someone had access to the building. Whether that's an employee or a volunteer, we don't know yet but we're running all those leads out," Maj. William Davis with the Sheriff's Office said.
Major Davis said that is not to say the volunteers are suspects, but they do want to have a talk with them. They have a list of about 10 names of people who have access to the storage space.
Wlock said his team of volunteers have been working with him towards the same goal for the last few years and can't believe it would be one of them.
"I know people can get into these locks like they can go in with a key and get out the same way," he said.
Wlock added no matter who is responsible, there's no chance the theft will stop them.
"Not at all. Not at all. We went right out this morning at 7 o'clock and bought $2,000 worth of toys. It won't dampen it at all. The children, they'll get the toys," Wlock said.
Investigators are asking anyone who sees someone trying to sell those items to give them a call.
They are also looking for surveillance video from the area to try to track down the person or people who did this.
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