JENSEN BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Everyone knows the story of how the Grinch stole Christmas — going around and stealing toys from children.
Well, that’s almost what happened in Martin County. Except this time it wasn’t the Grinch, it was a woman in a Santa hat.
It happened at Barbeque Beer Co. in Jensen Beach around 7 P.M. on Friday during a Christmas party.
Surveillance video captured a blonde, middle-aged woman in a Santa hat drag a box of toy donations out of the restaurant. Once outside, video shows a little girl approach the woman and ask what she’s doing.
“She had handed somebody a toy from the box and acted like it was from her, and got a hug from the child,” said Christine Dicondina, a manager at Barbeque Beer Co.
In the video, the woman alludes to taking the donations “to the fairgrounds,” where non-profit United Way is currently hosting their Holiday Project for Toys for Tots.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the woman is not with United Way and that box never made it to the fairgrounds.
“I think she owes community apology, especially people that Elev8Hope. Those families that were counting on this for their Christmas and to make it a little bit brighter,” said Dicondina.
The box of toy donations was for non-profit Elev8Hope, a hospitality house for kids and families experiencing crisis or homelessness.
Sheriff’s officials say the woman drove off in what they describe as a black Kia SUV.
If you have any information on who this woman is or where she might be, you’re asked to call the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
If you would like to give a monetary donation to Elev8Hope, click here.