Grinches Steal Christmas from Needy Kids, Cops Give It Back

Updated at 7 p.m.

BUENA PARK, CA - Toys that were to have been delivered to needy children this weekend were stolen from a popular food pantry in Orange County, but Buena Park police helped play Santa Claus to replace the gifts.

The thefts occurred Wednesday at the Buena Park Coordinating Council facility in the 7900 block of Whitaker Street, the organization’s director, Concha De La Cruz, told CBS2. The toys had been collected for children who signed up for the group’s toy giveaway this weekend.

De La Cruz said the facility was already low on donations this year, and she said she suspected that a couple of volunteers were involved in the theft.

“Seeing as this (involved) toys for needy children, officers of the Buena Park Police Department pooled some of their own money together and went shopping for toys to replace those stolen,” Buena Park police Cpl. Bret Carter said.

“We just delivered several bags of toys to the Buena Park Coordinating Council. We want to make sure that the kids at the toy giveaway can still receive a toy and nobody goes without.”

Carter declined to say how much money the officers spent on the toys.

“All that matters is they needed them and we wanted to keep those kids from having a spoiled Christmas,” Carter said.

“We also gave them several large bags of 2015 holiday season stuffed animals donated by PetSmart. PetSmart gave them to the Buena Park Police Association to hand out in cases just like these.”

The council still needs help handing out gifts Saturday, Carter said.

It was not immediately clear how much the stolen toys were worth as police took the first report of the theft Friday afternoon, Carter said.

The council has been “flooded with donations of toys” and money throughout the day in response to news of the theft, Carter said.

“It is quite overwhelming just how giving people can really be,” Carter said.

After serving the Buena Park community for 38 years, De La Cruz said she feels responsible, and that she was scrambling to give all the children something this holiday. Information on how to donate can be found on the website www.Buenaparkcoordinatingcouncil.org.

— City News Service, photo by Renee Schiavone