Pierrefonds daycare asking for help tracking stolen toys

Sunnyside Daycare in Pierrefonds has been robbed of its slides, water tables, a picnic table and more, but its director maintains hope that this is alla misunderstanding.

The daycare's director, Stefani Ilkic, explained to CBC Montreal's Homerun that the outdoor items were pushed up against a fence so it's possible that someone thought they were going to be thrown out and decided to take them.

Although, she admits, thetoys were so largethey wouldn't have fit in someone's carwhoever took them would have had to show up witha truck or van.

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"It's hard to believe that someone would steal from us," Ilkic said, adding that the area of Pierrefonds where the daycare is located, off Gouin Boulevard and Noel Street, is a good neighbourhood.

Ilkic said the kids were disappointed and it was challenging to put a positive spin on the situation.

"With the oldest kids, we talked about how sometimes people make bad choicesor mistakes," Ilkic said. "We tried to frame it positively. We didn't say they were 'stealing'.We said we thought they made a mistake."

Calling on Facebook for help

Ilkic noticed the toys were missing Sunday morning around 10 a.m.

After the shock subsided, she filed a police report, but not before posting to Facebook about the robbery.

The post has been widely shared and led to a number of donations, even from people who aren't connected to the daycare.

Ilkichopes that people will continue to share the post and keep an eye out for suspicious toy sales.

"If you see someone selling a bunch of toys suddenly, and they're someone who didn't have toys, let them know that maybe they made a mistake if they thought it was trash."

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