JOHNSON COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) – Deputies in Johnson County helped renew a young autistic girl’s belief in Santa by replacing her stolen Christmas present.

On Sunday, Deputies responded to a call near Joshua, only to learn that the 10-year-old girl’s 20-inch Huffy Sea Star light blue bike had been stolen from the family’s driveway. The autistic girl didn’t fully understand what had happened to the bike – just that it was gone and that “someone” had stolen it.

Deputies initially searched the area, but found no signs of the stolen bike.

Upon returning to the Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Lanny Boone shared the circumstances of the theft with fellow Deputies. Boone, along with Deputies Jeremy Goff, Keven George, Dustin Saulter, Danny Smith and Reserve Deputy Scott Smith, all pitched in to raise funds to replace the bike for the young girl.

After the bike was purchased at Wal-Mart, the Deputies returned to the home and presented the replacement bike to the girl’s grandmother, along with an envelope holding the excess money that was raised.

Deputy Boone simply asked the grandmother to tell her daughter that Santa had heard about her loss and wanted her to have a replacement.

As Deputies continued searching the area the following day, the child’s father flagged down the officers and thanked them for the gift. When asked if the daughter still believes in Santa, the father told Deputies, “more than ever.”

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