$80k Worth Of Toys For Tots Gifts Stolen In Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Nearly 1,000 toys that were collected through the Toys for Tots program and meant for city children were stolen just weeks before Christmas. Now the city is working on turning the tragic event into a Christmas miracle.

Toys were stolen from the Greater Bridgeport Christian Fellowship Church over the weekend.

The city raised nearly $2,000 from donations gathered during the downtown Christmas tree lighting that took place Monday night with the help of Bridgeport firefighters. The funds will help repurchase toys.

“We are going to make every effort to ensure no child is left without a toy,” said Mayor Joe Ganim. “We want to turn around this heartbreaking situation into a Christmas miracle to demonstrate the resilience and compassion of the Bridgeport community.”

A thief broke into storage containers in the parking lot of the church and stole about $80,000 worth of toys, according to the Connecticut Post. The items were due to be given out Dec. 15. Police have a person of interest in the case whose legal name is Infinite Seven.

Marine Toys for Tots is still accepting donations, which can be made by calling 203-726-3614 or 203-726-3610 or by visiting their website.

“We are grateful to the Mayor and the City of Bridgeport for their contribution and for helping us get the word out to recover the 1,000 toys that have been stolen from us," said GBCFC Pastor Eric Torres, who is also the Marine Toys for Tots Coordinator. We are still in need to meet our goal to serve the 1,600 families registered for holiday assistance but we will forever be grateful for the generous hearts of those individuals who have responded from near and far to ensure that every child in our community is able to smile on Christmas.”

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