COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Police continue to search for the suspect who they believe broke into a family's home multiple times before and after Christmas.
Jessica Hollis told FOX 17 her three young children are now terrified after having the holiday literally stolen from them twice when the break-ins happened in the 12000 block of 56th Street. Officials estimate the stolen items to be worth more than $2,000.
"I’m just dumbfounded by it all," Hollis said. "Literally the Grinch who stole Christmas twice.”
Hollis said their home was first broken into just days before Christmas while no one was home. Thousands of dollars in electronics and other items along with most of her childrens' gifts were stolen, she said.
But soon after, Hollis said family, friends, co-workers and members of her church quickly stepped in to donate items to try to replace at least some of what was taken to give her boys something to look forward to on Christmas.
Things were looking up, she said, until this past Tuesday.
"They came again," she said. "Wiped me completely clean and took everything they forgot the first time, plus everything my kids got for Christmas.”
Hollis said her boys, who are 8, 6 and 3 years old, are devastated.
“They’re traumatized.They got everything taken away, got a nice little portion back, and everything got taken away again," Hollis said.
Hollis said she can't understand why her home would be targeted and now wants to move.
Wednesday night several family members were on hand to help move out what was still left behind. Police were also back on scene because Hollis claims the thieves returned to the home for a third time but ran after confronting her sister's boyfriend who there at the time.
Now, she's trying to remain positive and take the situation day by day.
“The cops are my new best friend. I think they have my number on speed dial. It’s just been insane," she told FOX 17. “I hope everybody sees this, I hope they catch them and lock them away for a very long time. I don’t know what kind of person would do this.”
According to the Van Buren County Sheriff's Departmentm, witnesses saw someone flee the area of the home on Tuesday and drive off in a tan colored SUV. The suspect is described by police as an average-sized man between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 11 inches tall. He was dressed all in black at the time of the incident, officials said.
Anyone with information on this break-in is asked to call the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office at 269-657-3101, Crime Stoppers at 800-342-7867 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100.
Friends and family have set up a GoFundMe page to help out the Hollis family. Click here to donate.
