Police, Firefighters Replace Gifts Packed in Family's Stolen Car

West Covina officers and LA County firefighters replaced the gifts just hours after the vehicle was stolen on Christmas Eve

Firefighters and police officers played Santa Claus to restore a family's holiday spirit by replacing gifts that were inside their car when it was stolen on Christmas Eve.

The 1993 four-door Honda Accord, belonging to a family of six, was stolen Wednesday from their carport in the 400 block of West Front Street in West Covina. Christmas gifts for the family's children, ages 10, 8, 4 and 7 weeks, were inside the vehicle, West Covina police said.

Members of the West Covina Police Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 154 replaced the gifts and toys just hours later, delivering the items in two bags before midnight on Christmas Eve.

"The Christmas season is a season of memories – good memories – and we didn't want these kids to have bad memories, and we were able to change a negative into a positive," said Officer Gregg Peterson. "So it was very good for them and very good for us."

The presents included dolls and toy cars.

"They were donations from the community, so it's just good to know that we live in a community that's so giving," said the father, Josh Roffeis.

The vehicle has not been located. Call 626-384-5628 with information about the case.
 

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