Thieves Take Family’s Christmas Presents

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – Choose your icon devoid of Christmas spirit: the Grinch, Ebenezer Scrooge, or Burgermeister Meisterburger.

Any of them could resemble the person who snatched a Dearborn County family’s Christmas presents.

Melissa Wyly thought she had her Christmas shopping completed last Wednesday, December 7. In order to keep the gifts hidden from her four children, Wyly stored the presents including Wii games, toy cars, Barbie dolls, pajamas, and more in the trunk of her husband’s car parked outside their home on Hillcrest Drive near Lawrenceburg.

Unfortunately, the car’s driver side door did not lock correctly because of a previous accident.

The next morning December 8, Melissa discovered the nearly $500 in gifts were missing and called police.

Dearborn County Deputy Brian Jansen came to investigate the theft.

“He was awesome. He couldn't take fingerprints because of frost on car, but did inside. He also came back with some toys for my baby that he was getting ready to donate,” Wyly said.

Replacing the rest of the gifts may not be an option because of the family’s finances. The worth of the stolen items is less than the family’s $750 home insurance deductible.

“We feel blessed that we have wonderful children that know the true meaning of Christmas. We wanted to give them a nice Christmas, but it’s not going to be including all the gifts this year,” said Wyly.

In eight years living at their home, Wyly said they have never had any problems until recently. A family of friends who live nearby on Kaiser Drive experienced a burglary a few weeks earlier.

The Wyly family hopes whoever stole the presents, their heart – like the Grinch’s – grows three sizes.

Anybody who has information about the theft is asked to call the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department at (812) 537-3431.

*Update: Wyly says her family is not seeking any donations.

"We appreciate the help, but have a hard time excepting the help. We just wanted to give people a heads up to not make a mistake like we did and that this is happening in our area and to publicly thank Deputy Jansen for his help and generosity," she said.