SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (KMTR) -- Good news for a Springfield family after nearly all of their Christmas presents were stolen from their home as community members have stepped up to save their Christmas, a move that’s helping other families too.
Last Wednesday, December 14th, 2011, the Roybal family was left with just two presents under its Christmas tree after someone broke into their home while the family was at a church function. Burglars grabbed pillow sacks from the family’s room, then hauled off jewelry, a camera and the family’s Christmas presents.
But thanks to a large showing of community over the last five days, Christmas 2011 is turning out to be an unforgettable one in a very positive way.
A mother of three, Karen Roybal says several people have come forward at their kids’ school, local police departments and at random, filling up the empty space under the tree for the kids Daniel, Mason and Sammie.
The family’s been told they’ll get another donation on Tuesday, December 20th, 2011, collected by friends from Karen’s running group.
The Roybal’s originally shared their story with hopes that it would save another family from being victimized. Tonight, the family says it is humbled by the community’s response.
“One negative action can be counteracted by so many positive actions and it almost makes you forget how badly you felt by what that one person did,” says Karen Roybal.
Speaking to her kids, Roybal asked, “all of the people who donated money so that we could have a Christmas, if they were watching right now, what would you say?”
Together, Daniel and Mason said, “Thank you!”
Paying it forward, the family is planning to give some of the extra donations it receives to a needy family at its church, also the Relief Nursery, which fights against child abuse and neglect.
At home, the Roybal’s have added some new security measures, saying this is proof that burglaries can happen to anyone.
Springfield Police is still working on the case, but hasn’t made any arrests or recovered the Roybal’s stolen gifts yet. However, in the same Mount Vernon neighborhood off Bob Straub Parkway, Springfield Police did arrest one man on a theft warrant, catching him with burglary tools and stolen property as well.
