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Thieves ransack building storing toys for needy children

A charity drive is playing catch-up after its efforts to help children during the holidays were thwarted by a criminal.

Jimmy Olsen, of Etna, hosted an event at the skate park in Natrona Heights last week.

The event raised hundreds of dollars and boxes of toys for Toys for Tots, but the next morning, Olsen realized something was wrong.

“All the breakers were cut. All the lights were off. The security system was ripped apart and all the toys were gone -- about $2,000 worth,” said Olsen.

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Someone made off in the night with toys for children, including this custom skateboard.

“It's disgusting. It’s not like they didn't know what they were for. They took it out of the donation box,” Olsen said.

Luckily, the money had not been stored at the warehouse. Olsen and his friends used it to buy $700 worth of new toys.

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“I wish we could've done more but it's nice to help anybody as much as you can,” Olsen said.

Right now, the team is focused on donating whatever can be donated.

It has received new offers of donations, but it still wants to know who took off with presents for children.

“Somebody knows what happened. It's a small community. Somebody knows who did it,” Olsen said.