Cops save the day as they replace Christmas gifts stolen by 'true life Grinch' in Indiana home invasion
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA: A callous "true life Grinch" burglarized a home on Christmas Eve and stole one family's gifts, but Indiana police replaced them, saving the holiday. Viewers are currently praising the boys in blue for going above and beyond the call of duty as a video of their courageous act goes viral.
The touching Facebook post, which the South Bend Police Department released on Saturday, December 24 morning, states, "This is what serving our community is all about." Officers had been called to a break-in call when they discovered that young children's Christmas presents had been stolen, leaving them without anything on Christmas Eve.
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The brave officers called the South Bend FOP Lodge #36 "Santa's Elficers" program, a charity that aids underprivileged families during the holidays, in a last-ditch effort to save the holiday. Fortunately, they had extras in the station, which the officers brought to the burglarized house less than an hour later to make up for what had been taken, as reported by New York Post.
A squad of police officers is shown in the accompanying video standing beside bikes, dolls, and other brand-new gifts under the family's Christmas tree in the living room. The toddlers scream with delight and rush over to the gifts as the officers called the unnamed mother and her three children inside the room. The mother gives the officers a heartfelt thank you at the end of the poignant video, and the officers wish the family a "merry Christmas." Later, according to the police, officers also brought the family lunch.
“They found out that the house had been burglarized, and in the process, the individual had taken all the gifts and even some food out of their refrigerator,” South Bend Police Department Patrolman Brian Meador told WNDU.com. “So, they really left this family with nothing much at all.” The obviously devastated cop described the incident as a "true life Grinch," saying of the scene: “Yep, cleaned them out. Not even the Who-hash or the Roast Beast (was left). It was all taken.”
Social media users praised the officers for their altruistic deeds right away, with one commenting, "This is one of the best things I’ve seen in awhile. (It’s awful that they were robbed, at Christmas, no less). No one had to do anything extra, but they did. We need so much more of this in the world!" Another said, "Merry Christmas to everyone... especially those who enacted this small Christmas miracle." A third commented, "Thank you SBPD You guys really Angels in disguise From keeping us safe to being Santa Clause you are awesome. God bless you and the family you brought joy to." "Our community needs to see more of the positive ways Officers help. The children will remember your act of kindness. Stay safe. Merry Christmas!!" said a fourth.
The SBPD, however, stated that they were merely carrying out their responsibility to help and safeguard the neighborhood. “To see those little girl’s faces when they saw the presents under the tree and started playing with them, that’s why we do what we do,” Officer Meador said. “That’s the positive part, and that’s what keeps us going as officers. And so, I hope it’s a memory for them that’ll last a lifetime.” It's still unknown whether the Grinches who first stole Christmas were ever caught.