Some of the toys that were stolen from the Salvation Army have surfaced at a discount perfume store, and the owner says he may sue to recoup the money he paid for them after they were seized by police.
The news is the latest development in the case of about 100,000 toys that disappeared from the Salvation Army’s Railside Road warehouse over a two-year period. The toys are valued at approximately $2 million.
More than a week ago, police recovered a portion of the toys at a Brampton warehouse.
The owner of Fragrance Depot on Orfus Road did not want to appear on camera Tuesday. However, he told CTV Toronto’s Tamara Cherry that although he doesn’t usually sell toys, he jumped at the opportunity to purchase about $24,000 worth of toys for about $7,000.
He says he made the deal about a year ago at the Pickering flea market at Bayly Street and Brock Road.
"The owner of this store wouldn't speak to us on camera, but he told me off camera that he never asks questions about where his products come from,” Cherry reported. “His concern is the price."
Police seized the toys last week and intend to return them to the Salvation Army this week.
Toronto Police Det.-Sgt. Jim Gotell said the owner may not get far with a civil lawsuit if he did not check the source of the toys.
“It’s up to the business owner to exercise due diligence when they’re buying this stuff,” Gotell told CTVToronto. “Because if police become aware of these transactions, in all likelihood we’re going to show up and we’re going to get a warrant and seize the goods and return them to their rightful owner.”
Two men have been arrested in connection with the massive theft: David Rennie, the former CEO of the Salvation Army, and Umaish Ramrattan, of Ajax.
Both are facing multiple counts of theft, possession of stolen goods and breach of trust.
With a report from CTV Toronto’s Tamara Cherry
