Money raised to replace stolen presents

BOSTON, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Co-workers of a Barnstable, Mass., woman whose Christmas presents were stolen from her car raised money to help her replace the holiday gifts, the woman said.

Barnstable Town Hall employee Theresa Santos said several of her co-workers raised more than $1,000 for her after an unidentified thief stole $500 worth of Christmas gifts from the trunk of her vehicle this week, The Boston Globe said Thursday.

Police Sgt. Sean Sweeney, one of the individuals involved in raising the funds, said the fund-raising effort represented an annual act of kindness by town hall employees.

"We've always done something for somebody around Christmas time," he said. "This kind of came up at the last minute, so we started collecting."

Santos, who refused to judge the individual behind Monday's theft, was in awe of the holiday gift she received from her fellow workers.

"I'm still speechless to be honest," Santos told the Globe. "My faith in people has never wavered."