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Real-Life Grinch Steals Fla. Family's Presents & Puppy

TAMPA (CBSMiami/AP) — Do you believe in Santa Claus? What about the "Grinch"? A Florida family probably believes in both after what happened to them this week.

Police say burglars broke into a Tampa woman's home, stole her two children's gifts from under the tree and snatched the family's puppy.

Melody Russell says the thieves broke in while she was at work Monday. She came home to find the back door open, 10 presents under the tree gone and Honey, their 12-week-old Shih Tzu, missing.

Tampa Police are investigating the case — and they also provided a happy ending.

When police dispatchers and Squad 204 heard about the theft, they quickly chipped in to replace the gifts. The squad delivered the gifts in the wee hours of the morning on Christmas Eve, each one signed "From Santa."

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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