Published: November 21, 2008 12:01 am         

Police advise diligence during holiday season

TERRE HAUTE — Holiday shoppers beware: Christmas thieves are on the prowl.

Two grandparents on Social Security borrowed money from the sister of one of them to buy Christmas presents for their seven grandchildren this season. But as they were coming out of the Dollar Tree near Gander Mountain on U.S. 41 Wednesday, they found their van burglarized of the presents they’d already bought.

“We just wanted to make people aware,” Brenda Roberts said, noting that she and her husband filed a police report from the store, but are still shocked at the audacity of the thieves. “It was in broad daylight, about 2 p.m.,” she said, adding that they were parked in a handicapped spot right next to the store.

Vigo County Sheriff Jon Marvel isn’t all that surprised.

“Nobody’s robbing banks yet, but we just don’t know where it’s going to end,” he said, noting that “thefts are up.”

Marvel said a vanload of Christmas presents doesn’t sound like a juvenile prank. “Kids don’t do that kind of stuff. They’d joyride in the van,” he said. But as the economy continues to drop and Christmas nears, many parents are finding themselves in a bad spot.

“Especially the way the economy is and people’s paychecks shrinking and even disappearing altogether,” Marvel said. “We’re finding more and more that crime is increasing in minor thefts.”

And whether the stolen presents wind up beneath another kid’s tree, or in a pawn shop, the end result is still the same.

“I can’t believe anyone would stoop to the level of stealing that,” Roberts’ daughter Tonya Pruitt said.

Marvel reminds people to keep their doors locked, not just on vehicles but at their home, noting an increase in thefts in the Seelyville area.

“Having a dog helps,” he said, adding that “people who are stealing don’t like noises,” and that motion lights and alarms work well, too.

But for the Robertses, it’s a little too late, and the stolen toys will just have to be replaced.

“It was for the grandkids,” Roberts said.

Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.