Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Jed Boal ReportingWe're all familiar with the Christmas classic ”How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, and unfortunately we often uncover real-life dastardly deeds that dip to that level. Jed Boal introduces us to a woman who had a close call with a Grinch who nearly stole her Christmas.
As the story goes, the Grinch stole everything in the house, the presents, the trees, the feast; all he left was a crumb too small for a mouse. But even the Grinch is no match for the spirit of Christmas.
Dashing through the stores at Christmas is fun, frantic, and at times, even frightful.
Shelley Colton, Theft Victim: "You hear these stories about the true Christmas spirit, that's truly what it is."
Friday night, Colton corralled all of her son’s gifts at Toys-R-Us in one fell swoop.
Shelley Colton: "Bought my son's whole Christmas, pretty much."
Then she popped back into Nordstrom Rack.
Shelley Colton: “Gone about 45 minutes and I came back and my car was gone, and everything in it.”
A thief swiped her Christmas.
Shelley Colton: "The enormity of it to me, that was all my son's Christmas, my means of getting around, everything."
A family friend e-mailed Colton's conundrum to Mikey and JJ in the Morning at Star 102.7. The DJ's awarded her Most Overworked Mom, and aired her story.
Mikey: "Comes back out, her van's gone, and all the Christmas presents. There was a grinch that stole her Christmas."
JJ: "I know there's low people, but, how do you get that low?"
Their listeners agreed.
JJ: "The minute we got done reading this letter, the phones started ringing off the hook."
Retailers and listeners are chipping in.
Mikey Nelson: “I think that says a lot about the feeling in the air this time of year, and the people in Utah and how kind-hearted they can be.”
Early this morning security found Colton's van in a nearby lot, cleaned out. Gone were the gifts and clothes bagged for charity. He swiped sunglasses, gloves, even her ashtray with change.
Shelley Colton: "They took my carburetor cleaner, my umbrella, all of the gifts, even the ads that were sitting on my seat."
The culprit did everything but vacuum the van. But through the episode many have extended Colton a hand -- a salesperson at Toy-R-Us who comforted her and offered money.
Shelley Colton: "She has four kids, she's a single mom. It made me cry. That has to be the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me." The experience is giving Colton a renewed sense for the heart of the community. She calls it a humbling experience to see everyone step up around her.
Mikey and JJ will have an announcement about donations and assistance on their show Tuesday morning at 7:10, on Star 102.7.
