They were supposed to be volunteers, but they turned out to be thieves.
“How dare you,” said Karen Stallings, a volunteer with the Toys for Tots program in Akron. “You come in as a volunteer and then you steal from us.”
Akron police were called to First Faith Development Center after several individuals, who posed as volunteers, reportedly stole about $1,000 worth of toys. Program director Traci Higgenbottom-Williams estimated that the total loss of toys and other items to be around $5,000.
Each year, a small group of volunteers count and sort donations at the facility, but this year the team put out a call for more volunteers.
Surveillance video showed the group of volunteers leaving the building from a back door outside of the building. Detectives are investigating the case but no charges have been filed at this time. Volunteers believe they may know the identities of the individuals and police are working trying to locate them. Police said there’s a good chance the thieves are trying to sell the toys online on Facebook and other sites.
“You not only taking from the kids, but from the facility that’s involved with the church,” said Stallings. “So you’re taking from the kids and the church.”
Security for the Toys for Tots program has changed since the incident and volunteers are now asked to show an ID when they sign in.
The story has led to an overwhelming response from the community, with local non-profits and individuals coming to the facility to drop off donations. Akron police have also announced that they will be donating toys to the program. On Thursday, officers will be dropping off toys that were donated earlier from the State FOP to Akron Police FOP Lodge #7 for local distribution.