The package was a toy for the homeowner's five-year-old son, which made the theft seem even worse. That's when Santa Claus, in the person of Officer Joe Wess of the Youngstown Police Department, showed up. Wess was dispatched to take the report of the theft and revealed:
“Theft is one of my pet peeves. People work hard for what they have and when someone just comes up and takes it. That doesn't sit right with me.”
Wess took the report, then went out shopping to find exactly the same toy as the one that was stolen and took it back to the homeowner. Wess, like the thief, appears on the surveillance Tape. Some neighborhoods have used poster printing to create warning Signs that homeowners can display to warn potential thieves of a Neighborhood Watch scheme or similar.
Wess said that helping out the family made him feel good, and also helped make the situation much better for the homeowner. As for his playing Santa, Wess said he was just doing what was right.
When the homeowner asked how he could repay Wess, the officer simply told him to pay it forward.
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