Skip to Content

‘It’s not right’: Police seek person responsible for taking train toy from park playground

<i>WDJT via CNN Newsource</i><br/>The Town of East Troy Police Department is asking for your help to find the person behind the disappearance of a beloved toy train at Jim Byrnes Memorial Park.
WDJT via CNN Newsource
The Town of East Troy Police Department is asking for your help to find the person behind the disappearance of a beloved toy train at Jim Byrnes Memorial Park.

By Ellie Nakamoto-White

Click here for updates on this story

    WALWORTH COUNTY, Wisconsin (WDJT) — The Town of East Troy Police Department is asking for your help, as they believe someone may be behind the disappearance of a beloved toy at a public playground.

When crews tasked with replacing the equipment at the Jim Byrnes Memorial Park arrived for work earlier in the week, they noticed a red train toy that had been waiting to get reinstalled wasn’t anywhere to be found.

“When we were starting to dig holes to set it up, we noticed that we were missing a piece,” said Highway Dept. Superintendent Todd Scheel, who noted the toy is about two feet wide and two feet long.

That’s when they decided to notify the nearby police department.

“I got a call from the highway shop supervisor, saying we’re missing a train,” recalled Chief Alan Gorecki. “I drove the park and then I walked some of the areas where I thought, eh, maybe they threw it back here hiding, just trying to play a prank on us, but we weren’t able to come up with it.”

So, he turned to Facebook, posting about the theft on social media to get the word out.

Gorecki noted that while the toy had been placed to the side of a trail surrounding the playground area, “it was pretty obvious it was in good working condition.”

“If they thought it was set aside and gonna be placed in a trash, why not ask?” Gorecki said. “It’s just not right.”

Scheel agreed, adding that the park is a community hotspot for many.

“Seeing how many people use this park, I mean on a daily basis, people walking their dogs, people just out for a general walk,” Scheel said. “How could somebody come and take something for a little kid?”

Police confirmed they have security camera footage that overlooks the park and that a dark SUV could be a potential suspect vehicle.

“We are working on it and if we do come up with the plate, we are going to pursue that,” Gorecki said.

As for now? They’re hoping someone will return the toy to its rightful spot.

“You’re hurting everybody else by taking it,” Scheel said. “You’re taking some kid’s joy away.”

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Article Topic Follows: CNN - Regional

Jump to comments ↓

CNN Newsource

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content