A father’s desire to warm up the family car for his son turned into a nightmare on Christmas when the car, with holiday gifts inside, was stolen.

Springfield police put out an alert for the 2000 dark purple four-door Neon — featuring a pair of white pinstripes along the sides from the front to the rear — bearing Ohio license plate FGV 3281, which was apparently stolen from in front of a home in the 100 block of South Light Street just after 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Lt. Jeff Meyer said there is a city ordinance prohibiting vehicle owners from leaving the keys in the ignition of an unattended vehicle, but the father, identified as Michael Chandler, won’t be given a citation.

“He’s suffered enough,” Meyer said. “It’s a $35 ticket.”

Chandler said he, his wife and son were at his in-laws for Christmas dinner. When it was time to go, Chandler said he went out to warm up the car, then returned inside to dress his son for the trip home.

When he went back out to get into the car, it was gone.

“It almost reminds you of the Grinch,” Chandler said. “My son is 6. He don’t understand this. He’s crying. I told him the Grinch did it.”

Not only did the thief take the car that Chandler said he’s still making payments on, but the child’s scooter and other Christmas gifts as well.

“It was cold. I got the family with me,” Chandler said. “I wasn’t thinking about that” — the possibility that someone would steal his idling car. STAFF REPORT