SHAMOKIN - A city woman accused of stealing toys from a charity faces a bench warrant now after failing to show for a court hearing Tuesday.
Tonya Wilk, 31, of 409 N. Rock St., Apt. 1, was scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, of Shamokin, for a preliminary hearing on charges of theft and receiving stolen property. City Police Patrolman Shane Mowery filed the charges Dec. 22 following an investigation into the theft from a Toys for Tots donation box inside the CVS Pharmacy, Independence Street, earlier that month.
Police said surveillance footage from the store shows Wilk entering the store and placing her purse into a shopping cart before she leafs through a sales flyer. The suspect is wary of customers entering and exiting, and continually looks around before reaching into the donation box and plucking a plastic shopping bag filled with toys, police said.
She then allegedly places the toys into the shopping cart and casually walks further into the store to browse merchandise.
During an interview at the police station, Wilk told police she didn't remember taking the items. After Mowery explained that she is seen on video removing the items, she stated she did not remember the incident.
The theft was reported by store management. Police don't know the bag's exact contents.