Community Rallies Around Soldier, Replaces $5,000 in Gifts Stolen by Vandals
An Army soldier returning home from 17 months in Afghanistan had the shock of his life when presents he bought for his family were stolen just two days before he arrived home. Someone broke into his Lodi, California home and took all the presents, valued at $5,000. Now, though, Good Samaritans are rallying to replace all the ornaments.
"After being gone that long you want to have a good Christmas and good homecoming," Army Cpl. Chris Petrossian told KCRA 3 News. "This year I went all out and brought a lot of extra stuff and they have it now," he said of the robbers. "It was all sitting on the desk and they just ripped open all the packages and helped themselves to whatever they wanted, which was everything."
Some of the presents included high-price items such as video games, a GoPro camera, a digital camera, and an iPad. The vandals apparently broke in through a child's room window while the family was out for the day. They struck every room in the house, leaving nothing to chance.
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"It was pretty terrifying," Cheryl Petrossian told the Lodi News-Sentinel. "Ever since then I've had trouble sleeping. Just thinking about someone going through your things is scary, scary stuff."
"I'm used to shopping at Big Lots, and Kmart and thrift stores," Cpl. Petrossian added. "And finally, after a year and a half in Afghanistan and saving up all that money, I was finally able to start buying somewhat decent stuff. And then a day before I'm supposed to come home, someone breaks in and steals all that stuff."
Once the community heard what happened, they rallied together to make sure the soldier and his family, including daughters Carilyn, 4, and Adriana, 6, had a happy Christmas after all. Lodi police and firefighters collected money to assist the family, and the family has been able to replace approximately 75 percent of what was lost.
"Lodi is a great town," he said. "I have lived here a long time and absolute strangers, complete strangers have come together. The community has been really great, making it easier for us."
