Tuesday, December 25, 2012

TPD saves Christmas for one local family

http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/20420530/tpd-saves-christmas-for-one-local-family

 

Posted: Dec 24, 2012 7:26 PM Updated: Dec 24, 2012 10:01 PM

By Carissa Planalp - email

Posted by Sarah Cantey – email

 

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -

Here is a heartwarming story about a group of police officers who saved Christmas. That's after burglars cleaned out everything under a local family's Christmas tree.

Shoppers are grabbing those last minute items at one Kmart, but Christmas almost didn't happen for one family when thieves took off with everything.

Something about that burglary call tugged at the heart strings of Tucson police officers.

"We noticed our back door was open, and the first thing my husband said was where's all of our Christmas presents," said Tiffany Eppstein.

Tiffany Eppstein returned from a holiday lights tour with her kids to find her place ransacked.

"My son of course he's five he was like mom I don't understand who would steal our presents," she said.

Tucson Police Community Service Officer Tracy Kranz said, "Being that I have two small kids of my own and knowing how important Christmas is to the family I said you know what I can pass this on."

Kranz heard about the incident and acted quickly.

"Ninety percent of my friends on Facebook are within the department so I shared it and it ballooned into this major thing," she said.

Tucson police officers raised more than $600 dollars for the Eppsteins. Now Christmas is back on. 

"And I was just of course crying, what can you do, it's more than expected."

"All police officers and the law enforcement community sees is the heartbreak. It's so rare for us to be able to do something positive and give back."

Tiffany's new police pals even handpicked a few gifts for her kids.

"They showed me that yeah there is still compassion out there, times ten, it's wonderful," she said.

Tiffany's work even pitched in so her emergency shopping budget came out to about $1,000.

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