Deputies Step In After Grinch Steals Kids' Christmas

Heather Meiser, right, is pictured with Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Ernie May after deputies presented her with a gift card to replace gifts stolen by a burglar. (Photo by Oakland County Sheriff’s Office)

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ORION TOWNSHIP, MI – Take that, Grinch.

Their hearts injured by the theft of a struggling Orion Township mom’s meager Christmas gifts for her kids, Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputies collected $150 among themselves and presented the victim, Heather Meiser, with a gift card to replace the presents.

Meiser, 25, left her apartment in the 600 block of Kimberly at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16, and returned about 11:45 p.m. to find the door ajar, according to a news release.

The three Christmas gifts, one for each of her three boys — ages 8, 6 and 1½ — and assorted other items were gone.

A remote control dinosaur was missing.

Meiser’s laptop was gone

And so was her wedding ring.

“I was devastated,” Meiser, who recently moved to the area from out of state, told The Oakland Press. “I think it’s terrible that somebody could actually go in and steal Christmas presents that you could clearly see (were for) a kid.”

On Tuesday, deputies called Meiser. Would she come to Oakland County Sheriff’s Office’s Orion Township substation?

There, they presented her with the gift certificate.

“We actually lured her back up to the police station for her to take a look at something. She didn’t know (she would be receiving a gift card),” sheriff’s Lt. Dan Toth told The Oakland Press. “She was really surprised we were able to put that together for her to help replace those gifts.”

Meiser was stunned by the deputies’ generosity.

“It was really not anything that I would have ever expected,” she told the newspaper. “I kind of immediately broke into tears.

“Something so small to them meant the world to us. It’s just a relief to know there are still good people in the community.”

Do You Know Something About This?

The sheriff’s office is investigating the crime. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s tip line at (888) TURN-1-IN. A cash reward is available for information leading to an arrest.