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Cherry Hill Police Say Pair Caught on Camera Weren't Stealing Donated Toys

By Mike DeNardo

CHERRY HILL, N.J. (CBS) -- Cherry Hill police have cancelled their search for two "toy thieves."

Police originally put out surveillance photos of a man and a woman who made three quick trips into a Walgreens store on Route 70 at Grove Street last week, taking toys from the "Toys for Tots" bin each time.

Cherry Hill Police detective sergeant Joe Vitarelli says it turns out the two weren't Grinches after all.  The man was legitimately collecting for Toys for Tots but forgot to show Walgreens' employees his identification.

"He had forgotten to notify the storekeeper as per procedure that, 'Hey, I'm here to collect the gifts for Toys for Tots,' identify himself with an ID card and badge," Vitarelli tells KYW Newsradio.  "He was so tired he had just forgotten."

Vitarelli says it's always good to report that a crime was not committed, especially at this time of year.

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