COEUR d’ALENE — Nate Clements’ family is devastated after thieves pilfered packages from their doorstep the weekend before last.

One of the boxes taken from outside the family’s home in the Landings neighborhood contained an irreplaceable gift for Clements’ 7-year-old daughter Josslyn.

“My mom lives in Texas and has only been able to come up and see her granddaughter twice,” Clements told The Press. “Missing her more than the world, she handmade her a special blanket.”

While the family was at a gymnastics meet for the little girl on Saturday, the packages were delivered, but were gone when the family arrived back at home.

Here’s the kicker, Clements said.

When the family went out again later, the thieves returned to the home and left the opened mail with the contents missing. They left the ripped-open box that had contained the blanket, and a card the grandmother wrote to Josslyn. The empty, damaged box was lovingly decorated with red hearts drawn by the little girl’s grandma.

“As you can assume, my daughter was heartbroken and full of tears,” Clements said. “Not only is she afraid someone is going to break into our home, she is heartbroken that the handmade blanket from her grandma was stolen.”

Clements’ family has lived in the Landings for five years. For the most part, it’s been a great place to live, he said.

“Up until the last two years. Break-ins and thieves have ruined it for us,” he said, adding that the recent mail theft is the worst experience they’ve had.

Clements said he feels helpless.

“And as a father, husband, veteran, and a man, that kills me,” he said.