Salvation Army Exec Charged With Being Real-Life Grinch, Stealing $2 Million In Toys

Image courtesy of Not the guy who should be running a charity.

Not the guy who should be running a charity.

A former executive director of the Salvation Army in Canada has turned himself in to authorities to face charges that he was allegedly behind the theft of $2 million worth of toys from the charity.

Toronto police say that the toys were given to the Salvation Army but that they were stolen over a two-year period with the intention of selling at a profit.

The missing toys were turned up by an internal Salvation Army audit. A whistle-blower reportedly alerted Army leadership to the thefts earlier this year and the exec was placed on paid leave in August pending investigation.

According to the Toronto Star, the police got involved in early November and the executive was fired from his position last week. Over the weekend, cops discovered around 150 skids of toys and other donated goods at a warehouse in Brampton, Ontario. A second stash believed to be part of the theft was located in North York.

Investigators identified Northern Sales Group, a company with a warehouse located at Weston Rd. and Steeles Ave., as a wholesaler involved in the redistribution scheme.

Police say they are looking to arrest at least one more person, an employee of a wholesaler allegedly involved in the reselling of the pilfered goods.

[via Buzzfeed]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.