Crime & Safety

Children Awaken to Find Presents Stolen from Under Christmas Tree

Newark police are seeking leads in the Christmas Eve theft of presents from a home in Newark discovered by two children Wednesday morning after they woke to see what was under the Christmas tree, police said.

Police received a call early Wednesday from residents of a home in the 36000 block of Cherry Street who learned that burglars had snuck into their home Tuesday night and stolen all of the gifts beneath their tree, Newark police Sgt. David Lee said.

The suspects had entered the home through an unlocked window while the family was away at a Christmas event on Christmas Eve, Lee said.

The family got home that night and went straight to bed and did not realize the presents had been taken until the family's two children, aged 9 and 11, woke up this morning to find an open window and no presents by the tree, according to police.

Newark police officers working the day shift today pooled together $100, which was matched by the Newark Police Association, and officers immediately delivered the $200 to the family members, who expressed their gratitude, police said.

No one has been arrested in the Christmas Eve theft and police are looking for leads in it and a couple of other residential burglaries Monday night in Newark that may be related, Lee said.

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