There was almost no Christmas for one family in Prince Albert this year. However, the generosity of strangers saved the day.

"Everything was perfect," Clayton Veilleux said. "We had gifts under the tree."

When the Veilleux family came home on Christmas Eve, they were shocked to see someone had broken into their home and stolen all of the presents.

"My daughter screamed and cried because she realized all the presents were gone," Veilleux said.

When Const. Horace Ratt with the Prince Albert Police Service heard of the Veilleuxs' plight, he wanted to help.

Ratt's children are about the same age of Veilleux's and he knew how devastated they'd be. So Ratt and his family decided to donate some gifts and candy to the Veilleux family.

"I gave him a call from the patrol car, asked him if he was home, mentioned I have something for him," Const. Ratt said. "He came out to the door and I think he was quite taken aback and shocked."

"(Ratt) handed me the stuff and he put his hand out to shake my hand," Veilleux said. "I remember just pulling him in and crying on his shoulder."

A number of other families also donated presents to the Veilleux family.

"It quickly went from what was expected to be the worst Christmas ever to probably the most memorable Christmas," Veilleux said.

"You can't put a price on the appreciation and the gratitude that he had and obviously the hug," Const. Ratt said. "If I'm in that situation, I'd want my kids to have something to wake up to for Christmas."

Prince Albert police arrested a 38-year-old man in relation to the theft. The suspect had some of the stolen items on him and they have been returned to the family.