Peoria daycare receives donations and toys after thieves burglarized play yard

PEORIA, AZ - Community members are making sure children at a Valley daycare won't be hurt by a recent theft. 

Lil Pardners Childcare & Preschool was burglarized nearly three weeks ago. Thieves stole toys and equipment from their yard. 

After we aired a story on ABC15, calls came from all over offering to help.

"(They came from) Scottsdale and California," said Stacey Allan, Director of Lil Pardners.

Allan said parents from the school, community members, small businesses, and even a big chain store pitched in. 

"Walmart donated toys," she said. Another small business, in Glendale, donated $1,500 and a container filled with money that employees were collecting as part of a contest.

"It shows there's more good than bad," Allan said.

Allan estimated that the daycare received roughly $3,000 in toy and monetary donations. The yard was filled with bikes, toy cars, and playhouses Friday morning. 

"We have about half our stuff back," she said.

Police say burglars broke in August 6 while the school was closed overnight. 

Surveillance video shows two people carrying items from the yard.  It appeared that a padlock had been cut on the back gate. 

Allan said roughly $6,000 worth of toys and playground equipment were stolen. The daycare is still working with their insurance company to try and recoup the rest of their losses.

Peoria police are investigating. No suspects have been identified.