PUYALLUP, Wash. - A Pierce County woman found out the hard way that grinches are out in force this holiday season, when a thief ran off with what few early Christmas gifts she could afford to buy.

Lisa Cleven of Puyallup says she hit the big sales on Black Friday because money is very tight this year.

"Me and my daughter got up at 4 o'clock, and we went to Wal-Mart," she says.

She had put her $200 worth of purchases in the trunk of her Honda. But when sheand her daughter got home mid-morning - there was heartbreak.

"I was devastated," Lisa says. "I mean, I was just trying the best I could for my kids. It was devastating to walk around and see that it was empty."

All the small gifts for her two daughters and other kids in the family that meant so much were now gone. It's believed a car prowler found their vehicle unlocked outside this store, and was easily able to pop the trunk.

"How could somebody do this?" Lisa asks. "Every item, maybe except for a pair of pajama bottoms I got for myself, was all kids' stuff. So, obviously, they knew they were stealing from a child."

Unfortunately, officials say, car prowling and theft is a holiday ritual for some criminals. But in the Tacoma area, police are taking a different tact this year.

Officers are handing out placards that shoppers can hang inside their vehicles - warning thieves that there are no valuables inside.

But drivers also need to do their part to make sure they're not targets.

"Anything that can be seen from the outside of the car," says Loretta Cool of the Tacoma police. "As little as 11 cents in change will cost you a couple hundred dollars to repair your car."

Police say don't even try covering boxes and bags with blankets in your backseat. Locking stuff up in the trunk - and locking your car - is still the best bet.

And here's another tip: if you do put items in your trunk to go back inside shopping, move your car. Thieves will think you've left the mall.

Thankfully, for Lisa Cleven, friends are stepping up to help her buy replacement gifts for Christmas.