Jamie Stewart discovered when he stepped outside the family’s Frost Street home on Tuesday morning the display his children Gus 9, Lucy 6 and Arlo 2 had saved their pocket money to help purchase had all but disappeared.

Jodie Stewart said she was devastated to have to explain to her children what had happened and had overheard her eldest son telling his sister they might not get any Christmas presents.

“He said ‘Santa won’t know where our house is because our lights are gone’,” she said.

Mrs Stewart said she believes their house is in a safe street, but there are often young people wandering around her neighbourhood near Calare Public School at all hours of the night.

The Christmas grinch or grinches made off with everything except one string of lights “probably too high up” and two candy cane shaped lights they left broken in the year.

Mrs Stewart said she had wanted to make this Christmas special as last year had been tough after the death of the children’s grandfather in November.

She said her intention with brightening up the front of the house was to bring the same importance to December as her parents and her husband’s parents had always done for them.

“Gus’ grandparents were caretakers at the lake and told him about the backpackers camping down there, now every year he makes biscuits for them,” she said. 

“He was just so sad today.”

The Stewart’s said while the “crap” actions of the thieves have shaken them they wouldn’t let it ruin their Christmas. The family planned to replace the lights provided they could find them, as many of the shops had sold out.

“Lucy is so cross she’s written a letter to Santa,” Mrs Stewart said. “It wasn’t a hugely spectacular display but it meant a lot to them because they’d helped their dad and I.”