Thieves stole hundreds of toys from a warehouse on Long Island. The toys, valued at approximately $50,000, belonged to the nonprofit organization Toys of Hope and were part of a holiday drive in which children worked with case workers to create individualized wish lists. Melissa Doktofsky, the founder of Toys of Hope, told ABC7NY that the warehouse showed signs of damage and that many of the toys were missing.
The theft occurred at a warehouse located at 167 East 2nd St. in Huntington Station and was reported to Suffolk police at approximately 8 p.m. last Saturday. In addition to taking the toys, those responsible also damaged their packaging. Following the incident, members of the community responded by offering support, with donations made throughout the day in an effort to replace the stolen items, according to Long Island News 12.
The theft affected the availability of toys intended for children during the holiday season. In response, local community leaders and businesses organized efforts to assist affected families. The Town of Huntington, Empire Toyota, and Huntington Tri-CYA formed a partnership to help provide toys to families in need. Long Island News 12 reported that families who were registered with Toys of Hope, as well as others seeking assistance, were encouraged to contact the town’s collection initiative, with toy distribution scheduled for today.
Toys for Hope released a statement addressing the theft and calling for the return of the stolen items. Melissa Doktofsky, the organization’s founder, said to ABC7NY that the toys were selected specifically for individual children as part of a personalized holiday program. The nonprofit stated that it is willing to accept the return of the toys without asking questions and hopes they can be recovered in time for distribution before Christmas.
