When a Burglar Ruined Christmas, Police Stepped in to Save It

Photos courtesy of the Will County Sheriff’s Office

JOLIET TOWNSHIP, IL — Deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Office went above and beyond the call of duty when they helped save a family’s Christmas.

Deputies received a call for a burglary in a home on Mills Road in Joliet Township at around 10:20 p.m. Christmas Eve. The residents said they were away from home visiting family when someone kicked open the back door and burglarized the home, according to a release from the Will County Sheriff’s Office.

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A 7-year-old girl and her parents told deputies that someone had unwrapped all of the presents under the tree and stole them, which included clothing for the girl. An Xbox, TV, laptop and several pieces of gold jewelry were also taken.

Deputy Michael Kane spoke with the little girl and saw she was very upset over the burglary. Kane, along with Deputy Brett Farmer and Deputy Mark Tapella, decided they needed to help out the family.

The deputies contacted other members of the force and told them what happened. Two hours later, $600 was collected from 16 deputies.

Since it was after 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve, there weren’t a lot of options available for shopping. Deputies decided to go to the Walgreens at Rt. 30 in New Lenox. They purchased toys, merchandise and gift cards for the family.

A Walgreens employee gave the deputies an employee discount and a few shoppers in the store donated $20 when they heard of what had had happened.

Deputies took the gifts back to the sheriff’s office to wrap them. At around 1 a.m., they returned to the home and delivered the gifts to the family.

“I think seeing the little girl’s reaction reminded us of why we chose this career ... to help people,” Kane said.