PORT ANGELES — Early morning burglars stole gifts and clothing meant for needy children from the Port Angeles Salvation Army’s temporary holiday warehouse Sunday.
At least $1,500 worth of gifts and clothing were taken, but since donated items were still arriving and being inventoried, it may never be known just how much was stolen, said Maj. Scott Ramsey, co-director for the Port Angeles Salvation Army.
The items were taken from the former Hartnagel Building Supplies building at the corner of Race and Front streets, this year’s location for the Salvation Army’s Christmas Toy & Joy Center — a gift distribution center for low-income families.
“It’s tough to hear about that,” Port Angeles Officer Andrew Neisinger said. “I am always hoping the appropriate people are receiving these [donations].”
The burglars took some of the most expensive items, those for older children and teens whose parents filled out wish lists for the organization’s Christmas Angel Tree toy drive, Ramsey said.
The stolen items include four bicycles, Legos, video games, backpacks, clocks, watches, movies, air hockey games, hair dryers, flat irons and make-up, according to a list of items confirmed missing.
Electronic systems for children, such as VTech electronic tablets and LeapFrog educational games, were also taken.
There are plenty of toys, clothes and games for younger children from Angel Tree donors, but the limited selection of items for older children and teens was hit hard by the burglary, he said.
Ramsey said items for older children are hard to get and precious to the Salvation Army, because donors who are on a budget prefer to purchase the less expensive toys for younger children.
About 500 families are scheduled to pick up gifts for their children and food boxes with two days worth of meals at the Christmas Toy & Joy Center on Friday and Saturday.
With gift distribution less than a week away, the Salvation Army is looking for help in replacing those items.
Children’s gifts and cash donations can be taken to the Salvation Army offices at 206 S. Peabody St., or phone 360-452-7679.
KONP radio plans to collect donations today and Tuesday at its 721 E. First St. studio, according to its Facebook page.
Additional drop boxes for gifts will be located at Front Street Alibi at 1605 E. Front St., Lazy Moon Tavern at 130 S. Lincoln St. and Castaways Restaurant at 1213 Marine Drive.
The burglars entered the warehouse building by an unlocked window in a room that was not being used by the Salvation Army, Ramsey said.
“No one thought to look back there,” he said.
It was not known how long the burglars were inside the building, but Ramsey said that the amount of sorting that was done indicates they were inside for several hours.
“They were looking around for a little while,” he said.
When a neighbor spotted the burglars and yelled at them, they ran and left behind several bags and boxes of items staged to be taken out the window, he said.
Only one of five brand-new bicycles remained.
Port Angeles Police Department officers who responded to a 9-1-1 call from a neighbor at about 7 a.m. found additional bags hidden under bushes in the parking area near the warehouse.
There are no suspects in the case.
“It was several people in dark clothing,” said Neisinger.
Neisinger said that the witness was unable to see the burglars well enough in the dark to provide a description or a specific number of people involved in the theft.
Police plan to review security tapes at nearby businesses to try to identify the suspects, he said.
It was not known Sunday if they were on foot or had a car nearby to transport the stolen items.
Neisinger said the items taken did not fit the usual profile of items stolen by burglars for resale.
“They may be trying to obtain gifts or use them as trade items,” he said.
It is the second time the Salvation Army in Port Angeles has been targeted by thieves in recent years.
In October 2011, an estimated 2,000 pounds of food was stolen from a storage trailer behind the organization’s kitchen, where they serve hot meals and offer food baskets for those in need.
Donors responded from as far away as Seattle, and the Salvation Army received more than 15 tons of food donations and $12,000 in cash donations.
________
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
