Anger is building in Brooklyn after toys meant for children in need were stolen from a holiday donation drive tied to a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve program that supports military families nationwide.
Toys donated for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program were stolen from the district office of New York Rep. William Colton, a Democrat who represents District 47, in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn. The theft likely happened Thursday, according to Colton’s office, just days before the toys were scheduled to be picked up and distributed to local children.
Staff said the donation box had been placed near the front entrance to make it easier for neighbors to drop off gifts, but it was later moved inside after the theft was discovered.
Military.com reached out for comment to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, and the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office.
Theft Brings Community Together
The theft left a lot of people, including Colton, flummoxed.
“We don’t know why someone chose to steal toys donated to be given to children who are less fortunate. But we have learned, since the unfortunate event, that other people are truly giving,” Colton told Military.com.
The incident has, however, galvanized the community during a time of year when empathy is often on display.
“In the last couple of days, there has been an outpouring of support that warms my heart," Colton said. "I hope when this is over that we have a lot more toys for these children than we would have, had the theft not occurred. And, indeed, we will do everything we can to make sure that the children don’t lose out because of this.”
Colton’s office said staff relocated the donation box deeper inside the office following the theft so it could be monitored more closely.
A Marine Corps Program Serving Families Nationwide
Toys for Tots operates thousands of local collection campaigns across the country each year, many of them coordinated by Marine reservists and volunteers who oversee donation drives, warehouse sorting, and distribution in their communities.
The program delivers holiday gifts to millions of children annually and relies heavily on community trust to ensure toys placed in local collection boxes reach families before Christmas.
Local donation boxes serve as the backbone of the Toys for Tots distribution system, allowing residents, businesses and military families to contribute toys that are later sorted and delivered within the same community. When toys are taken from those collection points, it can reduce available inventory and complicate last-minute distribution efforts—especially as deadlines approach for getting gifts into the hands of children.
Neighbors Voice Anger Over Toy Theft
People who live and work near the office said the theft struck a nerve during the holiday season.
“That’s sad,” a man named Ralph told Military.com. “This is not the time of the year for that. Somebody’s going to be suffering because of that.”
Another resident, Estelle, said the incident reflects a broader pattern she has noticed of a rise in neighborhood thefts.
“I use doorbell cameras now, and I’m seeing constantly how many things are being stolen off of people’s porches,” she told Military.com.
Others said the fact the toys were intended for neighborhood children made the theft feel especially personal.
The New York Police Department said it does not currently have a report connected to the theft.
“There is no report on file with the information provided,” an NYPD spokesperson told Military.com.
Officials did not say whether surveillance cameras inside or near the office captured the incident.
Colton’s office said toy donations are still being accepted during regular business hours through Dec. 19.
