Grinch: Man Caught Stealing Toys for Tots Charity Box

Houston police are reportedly searching for The Grinch who stole Christmas -- or at least a collection of money meant to purchase underprivileged children some educational toys for Christmas, collected by the U.S. Marines' Toys for Tots literacy program.

The thief's image was captured by security cameras at a local UPS store where the crime took place and police are hoping the video will help catch the criminal.

"The donations and everything collected here goes to the local community where we buy books for the young kids," the store's owner, Raj Patel, told KTRK-TV.

According to the local news reports, the man entered the store and asked to send a fax.  But when the clerk had his back turned, the man shoved the donation box under his shirt and down his pants before walking out.

"Honestly, I think it's kind of sad because those kids need it more than we do, especially 'cause it's Christmas time," said Hadil Oweineh, the clerk on duty at the time.  To add insult to injury, the suspected thief later returned to the store to pay for his fax using money pilfered from the stolen donation box.

"I think it's desperate times, maybe. Or he's an amateur. I don't know. Maybe he needed the money more than everyone else," Patel said.

In all, the store's owner estimates that donation box contained about $150.