EDMONTON -- A self-employed handyman's livelihood -- along with Christmas presents for his two sons -- was stolen over the holidays after thieves broke into their north Edmonton home and made off with thousands of dollars in goods.

"It was just incredible.I couldn't believe it," said Randy Bennett, 36, whose entire garage of power tools was taken. "They took a lot of our stuff, especially my ability to work."

Bennett said when he and his family returned to their Lauderdale-area home at 9 p.m. on Boxing Day after spending Christmas holidays in Vancouver, they were shocked to see the entire place had been ransacked.

"Every single thing we had was thrown on the floor. It look like a bomb went off in here," Bennett said, adding his front door had been smashed in.

Besides all of his tools, Christmas toys and clothes for his two sons, ages five and 12, and an antique ring belonging to his wife's late grandmother were also gone.

The only Christmas gifts left untouched were some Lego sets, he said.

An empty tool belt and a hammer were also left in the garage.

Bennett said he and his family are thankful no one was at home at the time and that everyone is safe.

He said he and his wife also plan to replace some of the gifts that were stolen so their kids will still get Christmas presents.

"The most important thing is that everyone is OK, and my kids know it's not all about gifts," said Bennett.

"But now my little guy is scared about everything. He wants all the doors shut and he wants me to go with him everywhere. It has scared him."

Despite the incident, Bennett said he still considers the neighbourhood relatively safe and has never had any previous problems living in the area.

Bennett said the only thing he's asking for is for anyone who has information about the incident to go to police, or to see the culprits turn themselves in.

North division acting Staff Sgt. Eric Wilde confirmed a "large quantity of property" was stolen from a home in that area and that police are still investigating the break- and-enter.

CLARA.HO@SUNMEDIA.CA