A man in Enfield, Connecticut, is facing multiple charges after allegedly stealing bottles and cans from a donation bin. The police said that this is not the first time the suspect has done such a thing.
According to a press release issued by the Enfield Police Department (EPD), the incident occurred on Sunday, May 31. At around 8:00 p.m., EPD officers responded to 105 Raffia Road.
Officers had learned that someone had grabbed some of the bottles and cans from the Connecticut Children’s Hospital Cans for Kids donation bin. Cans for Kids is a program that collects these items and redeems them through recycling.
The individual in question was accused of then fleeing in a vehicle. Police officers began investigating the incident.
Suspect Located and Arrested
EPD officers utilized local surveillance cameras and municipal license plate readers. Shortly after, they got a match.
The suspect, identified as Joshua Wilcox of Broad Brook, Connecticut, was located in Wethersfield. That is approximately a 30-minute drive away. According to the EPD, Wilcox was involved in a similar incident at the same location once before.
Wilcox was arrested and charged with sixth-degree larceny and first-degree criminal trespass. If convicted, he could spend up to 3 months in jail and be ordered to pay up to a $500 fine.
Cans for Kids Responds
Cans for Kids director Gary Raffia shared a statement with media outlets, including WFSB. He thanked the EPD for their response and their effort in locating Wilcox.
Additionally, Raffia detailed that Wilcox had allegedly stolen the items from the shed located in the Raffia Shopping Center. He was to deposit them for cash in Wethersfield, he said.
“We have always tried to make our shed open as long as possible, in spite of potential security concerns, to maximize the availability for Enfield residents to deposit cans to contribute to our cause to help Connecticut Children’s Medical Center,” the statement read. “As always we thank those who’ve stood in support of Cans for Kids over the last three decades and we remain undeterred in our mission.”
Millions of Cans Recycled
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center is Cans for Kids’ largest beneficiary. Gary Raffia has been recycling cans for 33 years, according to a Connecticut Children’s Foundation post.
As of 2024, Cans for Kids has donated $693,549. That’s a total of 13,870,800 cans, which is a long way from 1990’s $1,770 donation from 35,400 cans.