By Satta Sarmah
Orlando Sentinel
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — When Sandra Pereira and her three children came home Sunday night, all the gifts under their Christmas tree were gone.
Thieves had stolen Christmas from the family and much more.
They ransacked the house, swiping not only the kids’ presents, but also Pereira’s engagement ring, a DVD player and a Sony PlayStation.
“I didn’t expect it to happen so close to Christmas,” Pereira said.
On Tuesday, the family got a second chance at a wonderful Christmas, when deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Fraternal Order of Police gave Pereira’s kids a mini shopping spree at a local Target.
The two groups donated money and gave each child a $150 gift certificate to replace the stolen gifts, which the family had received during a Shop with a Cop event Dec. 14.
The Shop with a Cop program, which was established 25 years ago by the Fraternal Order of Police, provides Christmas gifts to about 500 underprivileged children each year.
Deputies decided to raise the money after a woman called authorities Monday to report that she found several bags containing clothing dumped near her home.
When deputies noticed that some of the items still had tags on them, they ran a search of recent burglaries in the area and discovered that one burglary happened about a block away, at Pereira’s home on Debord Avenue.
They contacted Pereira, who identified the stolen items but said some of the gifts -- electronics, jewelry, shoes and a bicycle -- were still missing.
Deputy Stephen Akard, who took Pereira’s statement after the robbery, said the sight of an empty Christmas tree spurred him to help.
“When I got there, you could see the garbage [torn gift wrap] underneath the Christmas tree. Everything was taken,” Akard said.
Akard said other deputies were just as motivated to help.
“We pretty much cleared everybody’s wallet out that night,” he said.
Deputy Chris Story, who also donated money, said he and his co-workers are tough on crime but are upset when crimes affect children.
“We’re hard on the streets, but I take it very personal when it’s kids,” Story said.
Pereira’s kids -- Alexia, 17, Akemah, 15, and Kasiim, 10-- put their gift cards to good use, filling their shopping carts with toys and clothing.
Kasiim got an electronic dartboard, a Batman video game and a PlayStation 2 to replace the one that was stolen. Akemah opted for a knit sweater, black patent-leather shoes, and CDs from Keyshia Cole and Beyoncé, and Alexia stocked up on clothing.
No suspects have been arrested.
Pereira said she is grateful for what authorities did.
“There was no way I could have replaced all this,” she said. “It was pretty bad, but this is definitely going to make up for it.”
Kevin Carlucci, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 93, said the family deserved to get new gifts.
“To see them happy, to see them having a nice Christmas, is really fun,” Carlucci said. “We’re just happy to have it end on a high note for them.”
Copyright 2008 Orlando Sentinel