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Riverside Police Replace Gifts Stolen From 3 Girls

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Dec 26, 2008 2:51 pm US/Pacific

Riverside Police Replace Gifts Stolen From 3 Girls

RIVERSIDE

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: A family returned to their Riverside home from visiting family on Christmas Day to find that thieves had stolen their daughters' presents. (File)
AP

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A thief or thieves broke into a Riverside home and stole a couple's presents for their three young daughters, police said Friday.

An officer who responded to the reported burglary this morning found the girls in tears, and he was so moved he convinced his sergeant to do something about it.

The officer and his sergeant are to return to the home later Friday to give the parents $500 from the Riverside Police Officers Association so they can buy their daughters gifts to replace the ones that were stolen, said Riverside police Lt. Tim Bacon.

The burglary -- reported about 9 a.m. Friday -- happened near Jackson Street and California Avenue in the Arlington neighborhood, Bacon said.

The family had left about 1 p.m. Christmas Day to visit relatives, Bacon said.

When they returned they found several unopened gifts for their girls -- ages 8, 11, and 16 -- had been stolen, Bacon said.

Entry to the home was gained through a bedroom window, Bacon said.

"I walked into the home and all these girls were in tears," said Riverside police Officer Felix Medina. "At that point I called my sergeant to see what we could do."

Medina's supervisor, police Sgt. Wayne Ramaekers, got the okay from the police officers association to dip into the fund for $500 to replace the girls' stolen Christmas, Bacon said.

Medina, Ramaekers and Bacon planned to visit the burglarized home Friday afternoon, Bacon said. Bacon would not disclose the address or block of where the reported burglary took place.

About 400 sworn law enforcement personnel pay dues to the Riverside Police Officers Association, said police Detective Chris Lanzillo.