A stranger saves one family's Christmas

A stranger bearing gifts saved Christmas for a North Bellport family after, police said, their home was burglarized and their kitchen flooded over the weekend.

John Theissen, 40, of Seaford, who runs a nonprofit foundation for disadvantaged children, stopped by the home Tuesday with a bag of presents and a check for $5,000, saying he was angry after hearing about the burglary in news reports.

"This shouldn't happen," he said. "This is something I had to do."

Theissen sat with Cheri Sabolenko and her two children -- daughter Madison, 12, and son Mathew, 10, at the kitchen table, near the Christmas tree, which, the family said, had been surrounded by presents until the burglary.

"Before I leave today, you'll think this is the best Christmas of your life," he said.

That had seemed impossible Sunday morning. Suffolk police said that's when the family noticed the missing gifts after returning from an overnight stay at a Long Island hotel to celebrate Madison's 12th birthday.

Sabolenko, who says she is a single mother working two jobs including as a teacher's assistant, moved into their new Habitat for Humanity-built home a year ago Saturday with her children.

Last Christmas, she said, the family was overwhelmed at having a new home and never got around to getting a Christmas tree or stringing up lights.

This year, Sabolenko said, she wanted a real Christmas for her kids. Hidden in the closets was an Xbox, video games and pink jewelry for Madison.

When they returned home Sunday, Sabolenko said: "Everything was just gone. There was nothing left. Not one present."

She also noticed something else. The kitchen was flooded and the sink faucet was running.

Police said among the missing items were four televisions Sabolenko said her parents gave her as a housewarming gift, two laptop computers, video games and the presents.

Fifth Squad Det. Sgt. Bryan McMenemy said there had been no reason for burglars to stop up the kitchen sink and leave the faucet running.

"It's just wanting to do damage. Some people aren't feeling the Christmas spirit."

Sabolenko estimated the value of the stolen goods and damage from the water at $5,000.

The family's neighbor, Vanessa Eleazer, said, "This really was the Grinch."

By Tuesday afternoon, Madison was downcast about a Christmas without presents. If she could, she said she would have asked whoever burglarized their home, "Why would you do this when you don't even know us?"

Her mood brightened when Theissen passed out presents, courtesy of his foundation.

Theissen put an Xbox on the kitchen table, then a camera.

"Oooh," Mathew said and shook his hands in excitement. Theissen gave out a stack of gift cards, including a $700 one. And if that were not enough, he wrote the check for $5,000.

"Thank you," said Madison, a little weakly at first, then, "We thought we weren't going to have a happy Christmas."