Donations Pour In After Mass. Toys For Tots Theft

Apparently, this Grinch couldn't ruin Christmas for one Toys for Tots program after all.

After news broke Monday about a weekend theft of 1,500 gifts intended for needy children collected by the Toys for Tots program in Burlington, residents opened up their wallets and hearts for donations at state police barracks.

State police spokesman David Procopio said one Winthrop woman dropped off around 10 bags of toys she bought Monday morning, and so far, the outpouring of support from the public has been tremendous.

"We're very, very grateful. We saw the worst of people in the people who did this, and now we're seeing the best of people. We're fielding numerous calls from people wishing to make a cash donation," Procopio said.

In addition, Clear Channel Outdoor donated a digital billboard in Medford seeking donations and the CEO of a South Shore company is donating money, Procopio said.

"The public outpouring of support this morning in reaction to news of the theft has been tremendous thus far," Procopio said. "State police have fielded numerous calls from people wishing to provide donations, and numerous people have visited us this morning to drop off toys."

About $15,000 worth of toys were stolen early Saturday from a storage container in Burlington, a Boston suburb, police said. The thief or thieves sifted through the piles of toys and took only the more expensive items, they said.

Program coordinator Art Enos said he arrived at the storage container Saturday morning to find toys strewn across the parking lot.

“I hope whoever did it can feel what they’re doing to the children. I can’t think that anybody would be that low to do something like this, but obviously it was done,” Enos said.

Police are searching for evidence and looking for video surveillance of the surrounding area.

No arrests have been made.