Woman Steals $700 Worth Of Presents From Tulsa Non-Profit

Taking from needy families isn't exactly in the spirit of the season, but that's what one local non-profit said a woman did to them.

Now, they are scrambling to replace the gifts.

Surveillance footage shows what looks to be an average Christmas gift pick-up at Tulsa's James Mission; but the founders of the 5013c said it was anything but.

"I did not think to have them ask for IDs, I just kind of trusted that everyone would do the right thing," said James Mission co-founder, Lyndsey Reyes.

She said two women pulled up to their building near 41st and Sheridan in a van on Wednesday and identified themselves to volunteers as one of the families on the list scheduled to pick up gifts.

Volunteers gave them $700 worth of presents and sent them on their way, not realizing they'd apparently been duped.

It wasn't until Reyes realized the presents were gone and that the real family wasn't picking them up until later.

"So yesterday was panic mode, trying to look through surveillance video, speaking with the family that was to receive the gifts to verify that they didn't know who this woman was. Did they have someone pick it up for them? They had no idea who she was," she said.

James Mission is a non-profit that helps foster children and families in need with clothes and necessities year round.

Every Christmas they buy gifts for dozens of families - this year, making sure at least 200 kids have presents.

Now they've been scrambling to replace the gifts, and she said this never had to happen.

"We could have helped them, we've helped so many, and just to ask, they don't have to steal it, they don't have to be that way," Reyes said. “Everything that we give goes directly to families in need, and so it's kind of heartbreaking that they would do this to someone."

James Mission said they'll now start asking for IDs for every pick-up.