Jackie Morin had all her Christmas shopping done early this year, and was ready to enjoy the holidays with her young family.

Until the unthinkable happened.

"Our house was broken into and we had all of our rent money stolen," Morin told CTV News North Bay.

"All of our Christmas presents are gone," she said.

The North Bay, Ontario mother of two sons returned from being away this past weekend to discover the items and cash had been stolen -- leaving the family in a tight pinch.

"We're short money for the rest of the month because of it," Morin said.

Paricularly devastating was a missing tablet -- a special gift for her 9-year-old son Michael.

"That was his big thing that he wanted the most," she told CTV News North Bay.

Perhaps the grinchy thieves will have a change of heart -- but in the meantime the local community is rallying to support the stricken family.

A local computer business has offered to replace the tablet so young Michael will get the gift he wants.

The North Bay Police Service is investigating the robbery.

With files from Cindy Males, CTV News North Bay