Toys Recovered In Alleged Shoplifting Spree Donated To Charity

ROSS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- Thousands of dollars in toys, which were allegedly stolen during a multi-state, 10-day shoplifting spree, are being donated to charity today ahead of the holidays.

According to the Ross Township Police Department, the K-Mart store at McIntyre Square in Ross Township is donating approximately $8,000 of the recovered merchandise.

This is a case of good coming from a bad situation.

"It initially started out as a windfall for the people we arrested," Ross Township Police Sgt. Benjamin Dripps said.

By the time they were busted on Nov. 30, the alleged thieves must have been exhausted from all the heavy shoplifting.

"Twenty years, I've never seen a case that involved the degree of that we had here. The sheer volume, the dollar amount,"Sgt. Dripps said.

Last month, 39-year-old Christopher Dimaio, 40-year-old Theresa Warner and her son were arrested on retail theft charges at the Ross Township K-Mart.

The couple had gone on a three-state, 91-store, 10-day retail crime spree, according to Ross Township Police, who confiscated their rent-a-van filled to the brim with $35,000 in stolen goods.

K-Mart decided to take its recovered share of Power Rangers, Transformers, and action figures and donated $8,000 worth to the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots effort.

All of these toys will be going to local kids in Allegheny County, U.S. Marine Sgt. Aaron Thompson said.

"The closer we approach to Christmas, the less and less toys we receive and this gives us a little extra padding to give a few more toys out," Sgt. Thompson said.

Police said they had also retrieved a notebook the suspects are accused of using to target stores in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

RELATED LINKS:
Ross Township Police
Police Open Van Used In Shoplifting Spree
3 Arrested In Multi-State Shoplifting Spree