Fulton police follow leads after Toys for Tots burglary

UPDATE, 10:45 a.m.: Fulton police said Wednesday morning that they’re following up on leads after toys belonging to Toys for Tots were stolen from a storage facility off Highway 54.

Major Roger Rice said that they didn’t have any suspects at the moment but the investigation could change at any time.

Barnes said 12 Toys for Tots boxes filled with toys are missing, and there were some left but they had been ripped open to get other toys.

“They ripped (the boxes) open to take the insides of them out,” she said. “That just feels like they just ripped the insides of me out.”

Barnes, along with former coordinator Dannie Weddle, said that they aren’t in this for the publicity. They said toys can always be replaced with the generosity of the community, which has already stepped up, but they are just hoping that the person responsible will be held accountable.

“These people need to be taken to task and shown that this doesn’t happen,” said Weddle.

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ORIGINAL STORY: The Fulton Police Department is now investigating the theft of toys from a storage facility off Highway 54, according to Toys for Tots coordinator Melissa Barnes.

The toys belonged to the Columbia area program and were meant to go to children in nine different counties. The charity organization had been collecting the items since January of this year.

Toys for Tots helps out 6,000-10,000 needy kids in Mid-Missouri ever year, giving them holiday gifts they would not otherwise get.

Local area coordinator Melissa Barnes said the storage unit locks were completely removed, and the amount of stolen items could fill a large truck. She also said anything that was left was either broken or destroyed.

If you have any information about this theft, you are asked to call the Fulton Police Department at (573) 592-3100.