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Toys For Tots Receives Funds To Replace 400 Stolen Christmas Gifts

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Two organizations are now working simultaneously to replace 400 stolen Toys for Tots gifts.

Tuesday morning, Pittsburgh Police held a press conference. They say just last night, it was noticed that a room in the East Hills Community Center had been broken into. That room contained the toys meant for roughly 200 kids in that community.

Pittsburgh Police started their investigation into who was behind this. But, they also wanted to make sure those gifts were replaced. Tuesday, they asked that gift cards for Target and Walmart be dropped off at the Zone 5 police station on Washington Boulevard so that officers could go shopping to replace the toys.

"Three days before Christmas and you're stealing from little kids," Pittsburgh Police Zone 5 Cmdr. Jason Lando said. "Especially, these are kids that are less-fortunate. They don't have 15 or 20 other gifts. This is it. This is going to be their whole Christmas."

KDKA's Heather Abraham made a call to the local Toys for Tots coordinator in Pittsburgh prior to that police press conference. Coordinator Charles Brashear had no idea that the gifts had been stolen and started working immediately to replenish the order.

By 9 a.m., Brashear said that the national Toys for Tots foundation transferred $10,000 to him so he could begin shopping. With some toys left in their warehouse in the Strip District, in combination with the $10,000, Brashear says the kids will get their toys.

"It's amazing how quick we can make stuff happen," said Brashear. "It just shows the community that we're there for them and we're here to support them and do everything we can to make sure everyone has a merry Christmas."

Pittsburgh Police say they will still accept the gift cards and will use them for any toys that are still needed. Cmdr. Lando said whatever is leftover can certainly be used for children in the communities they serve.

As for the crime, Pittsburgh police were back at the community center on Bracey Drive Tuesday investigating. There are surveillance cameras in that housing community, but it's unclear if they captured the theft.

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