A Henry County business has stepped up to help after a family’s truck and Christmas gifts were stolen outside a Toys R Us.
Misty Flynn didn’t expect a thief would ruin her family’s Christmas and jeopardize their bounce house business in less than 30 minutes. But that’s what happened when she ran into the McDonough toy store to grab the last items on her Black Friday shopping list, Channel 2 Action News reported.
When she came out of the store, the family’s Ford F-350 was gone. The truck had an alarm, but that didn’t stop the crook.
On Monday, the corporate office of Academy Sports and Outdoors offered the family a $500 gift card to help replace the stolen Christmas items, company spokesman Cody Reid told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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Flynn said the theft happened as she made the last stop on her list.
“To know somebody watched you, to know you got out of your truck and went inside,” Misty Flynn said. “You just feel violated.”
She had been bargain shopping all day and had receipts to show she’d spent about $1,000 on Christmas gifts for her children.
“I bought toys from Target,” Flynn said. “I bought clothes from J.C. Penney."
Her husband, Justin Flynn, had worried they might not be able to replace the items in time for the holidays.
“To know that your kids might not have a Christmas, it crushes me 100 percent,” he said.
Surveillance cameras in the Toys R Us parking lot weren’t high definition, but the store showed the family the footage.
"When I saw it, it was just a foggy image,” Justin Flynn told Channel 2. “They acted like they didn't really care.”
The corporate office of Toys R Us issued a statement: “We were made aware of this unfortunate incident at our McDonough location, and are working with law enforcement who is investigating the matter.”
Justin Flynn said the fact that his work tools were in the truck and the family needs that truck to haul supplies means his bounce house business will suffer.
"Taking something that helps my family do what it needs to do, to survive and to eat, it's just ... shame on you,” he said. “Shame on you.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, text information to 274637 or visit crimestoppersatlanta.org. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000.
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