EDITOR’S NOTE: Information about the stolen property charge against a transient and circumstance surrounding his arrest have been added.
PORT ANGELES — A man identified as a transient was cited Tuesday for possession of stolen property after the theft of holiday toys from a commercial building that the Port Angeles Salvation Army was using as a gathering place.
Meanwhile, Salvation Army volunteers were all but buried under donations — including thousands of dollars in cash — that are coming in this week to replace the stolen toys for needy children.
Michael William Tripp, 24, was cited for stolen-property possession — which requires a court appearance — and released after he was arrested Tuesday morning near the corner of Liberty and First streets, Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith said.
Tripp has been charged with a misdemeanor, possession of less than $750 worth of stolen property, and will appear in District Court, Smith said, adding that he did not know the exact date.
Smith said that Tripp was staying as a guest in a Port Angeles home. The resident of the house grew suspicious about some of the items in Tripp’s possession and brought them to police. Some of the items were identified by Salvation Army officials, Smith said.
“As to who are the actual burglars, we’re still working on that,” Smith said. “There are more than one.”
Police have recovered some girls’ toys so far, Smith said.
“We are hoping to recover more,” he said.
The theft of more than $1,500 in toys, gifts and clothing, mostly intended for older children and teenagers, spurred a community outpouring of cash donations and a small mountain of bicycles, electronic toys, girls’ beauty supplies and games.
The added gift donations — including more than $18,000 in direct cash donations — are enough to make sure that every child registered for a gift receives gifts‚ and add a third day of gift distribution for families who missed the original registration, said Maj. Scott Ramsey, co-director of the Salvation Army in Port Angeles.
About 500 families are scheduled to pick up toys, clothes and food baskets Friday and Saturday at the Toy and Joy Center at the former Hartnagel Building Supply building at the corner of Race and Front streets.
The remaining toys, clothing, gifts and holiday food baskets, will be distributed to the remaining families on a first-come, first-served basis Monday, Ramsey said.
Families can register for the distribution beginning at 9 a.m. Monday at the Salvation Army offices, 206 S. Peabody St.
Distribution will continue until the toys are gone, he said.
Burglars entered an unlocked rear window in the building early Sunday morning and spent several hours sorting through the gifts before making off with at least $1,500 in toys, clothing and gifts, including four bicycles, video games for both older children and preschool learning tablets, dolls, socks and underwear, according to the Salvation Army.
At about 7 a.m. a neighbor walking a dog spotted the burglars handing items out the window, yelled at the burglars and called 9-1-1.
The burglars fled, leaving behind staged items bagged and ready for transport.
By Wednesday afternoon, after the Peninsula Daily News reported the theft, 24 bicycles had been donated along with carloads of new toys and gifts for the older children, which Ramsey said are the most difficult gifts for organizations to gather.
Many of the donors were individuals, Ramsey said, but there were also large donations from local organizations.
The Elwha River Casino donated six bikes along with movies, flat irons, hairdryers and video games; the Loyal Order of the Moose No. 996 donated five bicycles; and Elks Naval Lodge No. 353 pledged a cash donation, he said.
By Tuesday afternoon, $12,500 in cash had been brought in to the Salvation Army offices, Ramsey said, and KONP radio also raised more than $6,000 plus toys in a two-day donation drive.
Children’s gifts and cash donations can be made at the Salvation Army offices, online at https://secure20.salvationarmy.org or phone 360-452-7679.
Drop boxes for gifts are also located at 40 Christmas Angel Tree locations in Port Angeles and Sequim, including Walmart stores in Port Angeles and Sequim, Swain’s General Store in Port Angeles, and at Sequim and Port Angeles high schools.
Boxes also are 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, all in Port Angeles.
Kitsap Bank’s headquarters in Port Orchard announced Tuesday that all Kitsap Bank branches will collect cash donations for the Salvation Army through Dec. 24.
Tuesday night, a security guard, hired at a discount from Security Services Northwest, patrolled the Salvation Army’s Toy and Joy Center until volunteers arrived in the morning, Ramsey said.
“We all slept a little better last night,” he said.
Ramsey said the building will be guarded each night until the building is empty of gifts.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
