The holiday season is full of happiness and celebration, but it is also a key time for some criminals. Many of them use the holiday rush to take advantage of unsuspecting victims.

On Christmas Eve in Weirton, one family learned firsthand just how cruel some people can be. Their home, which sits in the 3200 block of Orchard Street, was broken into and gifts stashed in the basement of the home, were all taken.

For Carl and Caroline Campbell the story is difficult to tell.

"The back door was open and I come up to talk to my wife and she said she wasn't downstairs," said Carl. "So I went up and looked around some more and realized that somebody had busted the lock."

The lock was busted and the gifts for their three young daughters were all gone.

"What are we supposed to do on Christmas Eve?" asked Caroline Campbell. "When all the gifts are gone. I don't have any more money. I spent everything I had. They took everything."

It is an all too common crime during the holiday season and one that hits to close to home for the Campbell's.

"We worked so hard to get those presents for the kids," said Caroline. "They still believe in Santa Claus."

But it doesn't just happen in Weirton. In Toronto, police say they have seen a noticeable rise the past few weeks in the number of break-ins and burglaries.

"Some of it has to do with people out of work, or people with a drug dependency," said Captain Rick Parker. "A lot of these people feel bad that they can't provide and sometimes they resort to criminal activity."

Other than some obvious solutions there is one major thing everyone can do.

"If you're out and you see something suspicious, in the neighborhood, something that doesn't look right, call," said Captain Parker.

The Campbell's have filed a report with police and it is under investigation. They say this whole incident made them realize what is most important this holiday season, family.