 Toronto police yesterday arrested Wayne Kenny (left) and Jason Carrine in relation to the theft of a truck full of donated Christmas toys.
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TORONTO --First it was a story of the Grinch who stole Christmas.
Now it has become a story of Scrooge.
What we really need is Santa to make an appearance.
Meanwhile Toronto Police have three men in custody charged with the theft of a tractor full of toys from Peel Regional Police’s Toys for Tots program, which covers the Grinch part.
The Scrooge part is how a lot of people out there have actually bought these stolen toys for $5.
Imagine looking in the mirror knowing that you brought your child a “hot” present — all at the expense of some needy child who now may not get one.
“I guess some people were doing their Christmas shopping early,” said Sgt. Jeff Attenborough, of 23 Division’s detective office. “Some of these toys were worth as much as $60.”
Of course, if you bought one of these toys police are encouraging you to return it to the Salvation Army, which is going to need as many toys as it can muster to deal with the 7,000 kids on its list.
No one will face charges if they do. But it’s a different story for three people already before the courts and potentially others who police are on the hunt for.
The public doesn’t seem to have sympathy for people trying to steal Christmas from kids.
And that had to be an interesting conversation in the lockup last night.
“What are you guys in for?”
“Well we are alleged to be part of an operation that stole a trailer full of toys earmarked for needy children and then later sold them to people for $5 a piece.”
Oh to be a fly on the wall in the Don Jail last night. Is there honour among alleged thieves?
Charged with the theft of the tractor stored in Rexdale holding 25 skids of donated toys, is Wayne Ouimette, 42 of Etobicoke, who also faces break and enter charges and the possession of two allegedly stolen vans.
Charged with possession of property obtained by crime, possession of the proceeds of crime and marijuana possession is Wayne Kenny, 27.
Charged with having property obtained by crime and probation violations is Jason Carrine, 31.
The three are brothers.
All three are known to police who allege many of these presents were sold.
Attenborough describes the suspects allegedly walking down the street from a Weston Rd. apartment building “carrying garbage bags full of the toys.”
One person close to the brothers alleges he saw the marketing of toys for $5 and was mortified. He said he decided to drop the dime on them.
“They have had a lot of problems with drugs and other things but this was too much,” said this tipster’s reason for calling CrimeStoppers.
“Remember these are the same guys who have had help from the Salvation Army in the past.”
If this person gets the honorarium for making the Crime Stoppers call, he or she indicated “I will have it donated to the Salvation Army to help get more toys for the kids.”
Brian Kenny, a brother of the brothers who has no involvement in this incident, said while it’s certainly disgraceful to be accused of the crime of stealing Christmas presents destined for poor kids, his brothers ironically come from the same kind of rough economic background.
“They went right from foster homes right to jail,” he said. “They have had a horrible life.”
Whatever the excuse, Attenborough said, “a number of people in the public have assisted us” and “we are thankful for that.”
There are other alleged grinches still on the lamb. And lots of toys to recover.
“So far just half the container of toys has been located,” said Attenborough. “It’s unknown how many have been sold but we are doing an inventory?”
The Salvation Army has estimated that the missing toys could have provided dreams come true to 800 families.
If you want to donate contact the Peel Toys for Tots program at 905-453-2121, ext. 4033 or drop a toy at the Salvation Army locations at 9395 Bramalea Rd. or at 8054 Torbram Rd.
There have been Grinches, Scrooges and now it’s time for Santa.
joe.warmington@sunmedia.ca
