Mere days before what was shaping up to be a plentiful holiday celebration, a Tacony family found out that the Grinch Who Stole Christmas isn’t just a fairy tale. But after a burglar made off with their Christmas gifts, officers from the 15th Police District demonstrated what the holiday spirit really is about.
In the early morning hours of Dec. 22, James Osuch arrived home on the 4700 block of Knorr St. after a long drive to Washington, D.C., only to find that someone had broken into his house, ransacked the place and made off with many presents that he had been keeping in his basement, awaiting a joyous Christmas with his 4-year-old twin daughters, Scarlett and Samantha.
“We hid them in the basement because we don’t let the girls go down there. They were really excited for Christmas,” Osuch said.
Fortunately, the girls were staying with family while their father was away and no one else was home when the break-in occurred. After discovering the crime, he called police, who launched an investigation. In retrospect, Osuch recalled that he had mentioned to others that he would be leaving town that night. And it cost him.
Touched by the thought of the twins missing out on Christmas, Officer Walter Bosak of the 15th district and his partner Officer Lawrence Joyce, along with Community Relations Officer Matt Crosson, began a collection. Soon, word spread throughout the community and about $1,000 was raised within 24 hours. Bosak and his family used the money to go shopping for the victims. On Dec. 23, they dropped off a sleigh-full of gifts at the house, as well as food for a holiday meal.
“I was actually shocked at first that they even cared,” Osuch said. “Now I don’t have any doubts that there are good people out there and some of them are cops.” ••
