Grinch-like theft may leave kids toyless

By COURTNEY BLANCHARD, Star Tribune

Last update: December 19, 2007 - 12:15 AM

David Grupa's favorite holiday character is the Grinch, from whom he learned, "Christmas will come whether there's toys or not."

Unfortunately, some kids in North St. Paul may face that very prospect -- a Christmas without toys.

Someone snatched Grupa's vehicle on Tuesday morning along with 20 large garbage bags of toys he'd collected for kids, then ditched the SUV 10 miles away, minus the toys.

The professional photographer from Maplewood had picked up the gifts from a donation site at a local business and parked his vehicle in a friend's driveway, he said. He was letting it warm up when it was stolen.

Grupa, 48, had expected to deliver the toys later Tuesday to Webster Elementary School in North St. Paul, where a school social worker was to distribute the gifts to needy families.

"This is what makes Christmas fun for me," said Grupa, who started a holiday toy donation charity, the North St. Paul Holiday Drive, eight years ago, collecting donations from area businesses.

He said police didn't seem optimistic about recovering the gifts. With time winding down before Christmas, Grupa said he hopes there will still be enough donations to go around this year.

From the beginning, there had been fewer donations this year, which makes the theft especially frustrating, he said. "It hurts something that's already hurting."

Courtney Blanchard • 612-673-4921