Felony charges have been filed against a North Chicago man who allegedly stole money from a Toys For Tots donation jar in Winthrop Harbor in November.
Chaylen T. Wright, 23, of the 2100 block of Winter Avenue in North Chicago, was charged with one count of theft under $500, a Class 4 felony.
The incident happened around 9:15 p.m. November 27 at the Shell gas station located at 901 Sheridan Road in Winthrop Harbor.
The Winthrop Harbor Police Department released several high-quality surveillance photos of the subjects involved at the time of the incident.
Police said that video surveillance showed the four-person group entering the gas station convenience store.
Wright, and possibly others in the group, stole money from the Winthrop Harbor Toys For Tots donation jar on the counter, the video showed.
Winthrop Harbor Police Department Detective Sergeant Christopher Willets said that investigators received numerous tips from the public.
Detectives successfully identified all four subjects and an arrest warrant was obtained on Thursday for Wright following an investigation.
The three other subjects involved will not be charged, Willets said. A booking photo was not available for Wright since he is not in custody yet.
In November 2017, a man stole the same Toys For Tots donation jar from the same gas station. Police were able to identify the man and arrest him.
He told detectives he was upset that the clerk at the gas station did not sell him alcohol. He also told detectives that he needed money for a present for his granddaughter’s upcoming birthday, as well as for utility bills.
Toys For Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve that distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was started in 1947.