CHRISTMAS SPIRIT was extinguished for a Fife family when a thief stole money they were collecting for a children’s hospital ward.
Every year Gary and Lorraine Ormiston create such an impressive light show at their Kirkcaldy home that people come from far and wide to see it.
The Royal Hospital for Sick Children, in Edinburgh, even takes busloads of kids through to see what must be one of the most spectacularly decorated houses in Scotland.
But on Christmas Eve a collection box strapped to a lamppost outside their house in Robert Philp Road was stolen, robbing the ward at the town’s Victoria Hospital of an estimated £60 to £100.
Gary said the theft had put a dampener on Christmas for him, Lorraine and their three children, Katie (9), Sophie (7) and Ben (5), and may see him pack up his decorations for good.
He said: “We put a lot of hard work and effort in and someone does this. It’s just sick. We went out for a meal on Christmas Eve, as we usually do, and as soon as I got back I noticed the box was gone.
“I had spoken to the children’s ward last Wednesday and they were going to put the money towards a special bed. I told them I was hoping to raise £500 and they were over the moon.”
The forklift driving instructor said: “We get a lot of people coming over from Edinburgh to see the lights. People hear about them through word of mouth and want to see for themselves. It’s great when you see the bairns’ faces.”
The family live in a quiet, residential cul-de-sac so Gary reckons the culprit came specially to plunder the takings.
He said: “They must have brought a knife or cutters as there is no way you could have pulled the box off.”
Since the theft, Gary has not replaced the box, and he said: “At this moment in time, I’m not in the mood to put the lights up next year.
“On Christmas Eve night my wife said she didn’t feel safe knowing there was a thief out there. It was a real dampener to think that someone had done this.”
The crime is particularly upsetting for the family as they began their charity Christmas illuminations to raise money for Cancer Research when Lorraine was fighting breast cancer. They have also raised money for children’s hospice charity CHAS and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
Before the theft they had collected £400 for Victoria Hospital children’s ward.
Fife Constabulary is investigating the theft, which took place some time between 8.30pm and 9.45pm.
Community sergeant Scott Murray said: “This theft was particularly callous. It was clear that the money raised was to go to local charities and the person taking it must have been aware of this.”
He asked for anyone with information to call the police on 0845 600 5702 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
cpeebles@thecourier.co.uk