A cruel thief stole presents destined for a four-year-old boy left on his doorstep by his auntie during the coronavirus lockdown.
The heartless crook saw an opportunity to pilfer the gifts, even though they were clearly for a child and were there for just 15 minutes.
But in a completely opposite display of human spirit, a kind neighbour later spotted them abandoned in an alley, a short distance away, and returned the gifts.
The toys - a car and a dinosaur - had been placed carefully outside the Russell Road home in Rock Ferry yesterday where Mason Caldwell was celebrating his fourth birthday at his dad's house.
But he initially never got to see the presents as they were swiped, along with a cake, and a card bearing his first name.
They were all cleaned and wiped down, but an emotionless lout still decided to run off with the precious haul.
But hours later, after mum Jessica posted an appeal on social media, a neighbour contacted her to inform the presents had been found further down the road.
The wrapping paper had been torn, but the toys were still intact, although the card was missing.
Mum-of-one Jessica, 28, told the ECHO: "I think it's really disgusting someone would stoop so low at a time like this when we're all trying to come together.
"But it was great when a neighbour got in touch to say she had found them before returning them, this time with a knock on the window.
"That made a really bad day into one of the best days ever.
"I couldn't ask for anything more from the decent members of the public."
Mason's dad did contact police, but naturally, they were not able to investigate further due to their stretched resources and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
And in a further touching act of kindness, a stranger who had seen the mum-of-one's appeal on Facebook, bought a present for Mason, and left it at the customer service desk at Tesco in Bidston.
Her daughter also had drawn a picture for the four-year-old and signed it, all of which have now been received by the Caldwell family.
