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It was sad to see the family behind the Carter Christmas Lights Show post on social media in the last couple days that an individual broke into their donation box in front of their house Saturday night and left with money that had been intended for the United Way of Freeborn County’s Welcome Pantry.

This is the 10th year for the Christmas lights show, and the family spends weeks setting up lights and decorations to have the display ready by late November. They buy the lights with their own money and spend countless hours of their own time to make something that brings a little joy to the community. To top it off, they collect donations to go to a different cause every year.

In previous years, they’ve given the funds to The Children’s Center, SEMCAC’s Meals on Wheels, the Albert Lea Salvation Army food shelf, Scouts and others.

According to camera footage, a car is shown waiting in line to get up to the house, and when the car makes it to the front of the house, an individual gets out of the passenger side and can be seen messing with the donation box.

The incident was reported to the Albert Lea Police Department, but unfortunately, the cameras were not able to capture the license plate on the vehicle or get a good ID of the suspect.

To the Carters: We’re so sorry this has happened, and we hope it does not deter you from continuing what has become a tradition for so many in Albert Lea.

To the thieves: It’s not too late to return the funds.