Phones Donated to Troops Stolen

December 25, 2008
The Record, Bergen County, NJ

TRENTON, N.J. -- A box of cell phones and cards meant as a Christmas gift for troops was stolen from a state legislator's office over the weekend.

Thieves took about 40 to 50 of the one-use cell phones and phone cards from the office of Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Princeton, he said Monday. The package was going to be the second shipment of phones heading toward Afghanistan and Iraq via Fort Dix.

Constituents donated the items so that troops could call home over the holidays.

"This is the Grinch who stole Christmas, but this time it's from the troops," he said. "It puts a damper on the holiday spirit."

The offices were ransacked, a front window was broken, and a computer, a space heater, and a camera were also stolen, Gusciora said.

Police are investigating the burglary, he said.

The phones were donated as part of a nationwide effort called Cell Phones for Soldiers. The charity's Web site is cellphonesforsoldiers.com.