It's a very merry Christmas for a northwest Miami-Dade family after an anonymous Good Samaritan returned their stolen puppy, and a South Florida group played the role of Santa in replacing their stolen Christmas gifts.
The Moncada family arrived at their home Thursday evening to find that thieves had burglarized their house, stealing thousands of dollars worth of electronics and other presents for their children.
The burglars also took off with the family dog, a 5-month-old Yorkie named Mickey. The puppy was a birthday gift for her 4-year-old Gianna in September.
"I'm the mom. I'm supposed to be strong for them but it's hard when you have someone doing this. It's a huge violation for all of us," mom Edda Moncada told NBC 6.
The family made fliers and spread word throughout the neighborhood pleading for Mickey's safe return, telling NBC 6 that all the only wish their five children had was for Mickey to come home by Christmas.
Saturday night around 10:30 p.m., those wishes came true.
Someone dropped Mickey off a few blocks away, and someone in the neighborhood recognized the stolen pup.
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"We hear a knock on the window, and my husband goes outside like literally five minutes later he's like, 'I think someone found Mickey!'" Edda says.
Dad Oscar Moncada met up with the person to pick Mickey up, and admitted that the reunion was an emotional one.
"I don't like showing, expressing how I feel but, I couldn't hold back the tears," Oscar tells NBC 6. "I shed a tear or two on my way back with Mickey."
But the Christmas joy didn't stop there for the Moncada children Ethan, Nathan, Julian, Gianna and baby Vicki.
After hearing the Moncada family's plight, motorcycle group Ride 2 Give, in connection with Peterson's Harley Davidson South, teamed up to help out the family.
Donning Santa suits, the group dropped off dozens of new toys to replace the ones that were stolen. The gesture brought both the family and the motorcycle group to tears.
"Did you just see what happened when we hugged them? That's why we do it. We love the kids, and we also want the community to know that motorcycle people are good people with big hearts," Jody Saenz of Ride 2 Give tells NBC 6.
The Moncada family tells NBC 6 that they wish the thank the person who found Mickey, but the individual has chosen to remain anonymous.
An investigation into the burglary is still ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.
