South Bay : CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Two weeks ago, Natalia Armas thought her dream house had vanished along with the $28,000 snatched by a thief from her rented Inglewood home. Now she might be able to buy a house after all, thanks to those who heard her story and helped out.

A fund created with police officers’ assistance to help 29-year-old Armas and her two daughters contained $9,280 as of Thursday, and $6,500 more has been pledged, said Jerome E. Farley, president and chief executive officer of Western Security Bank in Burbank, which is overseeing the fund.

And the checks are still coming, some for as little as $5, most wrapped with letters urging Armas to pursue her dream after the money was stolen June 20. One donor from Santa Monica wrote: “Hope this small contribution restores your faith to keep your life going.”

Armas was keeping the money in her coat pocket at home after a recent dispute with her bank, and had been planning to use it within days as a down payment on a duplex. Although the duplex has since been sold, she is continuing her search, overwhelmed by donors’ generosity.

“I can’t believe what’s happening,” she said.