Thief steals presents under family's tree

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The Randazzo's family Christmas tree sparkles and memories of happier times hang from the branches. 

A hint of darkness casts a shadow over those good thoughts. 

"It's pretty low honestly. We feel violated and scared," said Ashton Randazzo. 

The family and their four children went to sleep last night in their home off of Jeannin Drive in North Port. 

They expected to wake up to presents from a visiting aunt. She placed them under the tree, but when they woke up the presents had disappeared. 

"It's like another blow," she said.

It comes months after the children's grandmother passed away. 

"She was the Christmas spirit of the family. The kids have had a tremendous hard time and so have the adults," said Ashton. 

Ashton Randazzo's sister-in-law came with the presents to cheer up the family.  She said someone forgot to lock the back sliding door and the thieves got in and took their gifts. 

Ashton said they also got away with her sister-in-law's wallet and husband's cell phone.  Even more brazen they grabbed the keys to the family's minivan and took off. 

"We didn't hear a thing," she said. 

North Port Police are concerned.  They plan on stepping up patrols in the neighborhood. 

Police responded to additional calls of cars that had been broken into. They were minutes away from the Randazzo's home. 

"To go into a home where people are sleeping. There were children that were there. You never know how this is going to go down. We consider this to be very brazen," said Josh Taylor with North Port Police. 

While they're disappointed the Randazzo's spirits aren't dampened. 

"We will continue on with Christmas. This will not break us. We are very strong," she said. 

The family hopes people will keep an eye out for their van, which is a 2014 red Chrysler Town and Country.