Donation box stolen from North Rustico Christmas house

RCMP in northern P.E.I. are investigating the theft of a donation box from a North Rustico home famous for its Christmas decorations.

• Christmas lights dazzle in North Rustico, P.E.I.

The home of James Gallant has been attracting crowds for decades with its elaborate Christmas display. Since 2005, the display has includeda donation box for the Children's Wish Foundation.

"You'd think people would realize what it's for. Now it's gone. Leaves you speechless," said Gallant.

"Out of the 11 years that he's been doing this, this had never happened," Gallant's daughter Nadine Tibbits told CBC News. "It's quite the slap in the face."

Tibbits said some nights Gallant clears as much as $400 in donations in the box, but is hopeful there wasn't much money in the box at the time it was stolen.

"It's terrible that it happened but it's good that it happened at that time, because there wouldn't have been much money in it yet," she said. "He empties it out really often."

Staff of the Children's Wish Foundation delivered a replacement for the stolen box to Gallant's home Wednesday.

Over the years, Gallant has raised more than $58,000 for the foundation.

"We've always done well," he said. "It's the people that gets the credit, not me.

Police are asking for public help solving the crime. People with information can contact Crime Stoppers, call RCMP at 1-800-222-8477, or text TIP162 plus a message to 274637.

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