Police say the East End Community Center in Bridgeport was robbed overnight of hundreds of presents.

Thieves broke through a glass door and stole about $2,000 worth of toys that were meant to be given out to children in need through an event called Santa's Last Stop.

Community leaders were determined to keep the tradition going, and they say the community, including business owners, politicians and residents showed up on Christmas Day to drop off boxes and bags of toys to replace the ones that were stolen.

 

John Ferguson of Wonderland of Ice in Bridgeport says he was happy to help.

"There's no words to say. As a community and as a business owner, you have to come out and you have to help out," Ferguson says.

News 12 is told the donations ended up being more than the original haul.

Community leaders say while this is a classic case of a Grinch trying to steal Christmas, the community came together to save the holiday.