A Christmas Eve break-in left the staff at a needy children's kokua program wondering what sort of Scrooge would steal kids' bikes.

Workers at Kalihi Valley Instructional Bike Exchange, a community-based nonprofit program, found that thieves had broken into the group's warehouse overnight and swiped bicycles, cash and tools worth thousands, program coordinator Gary Gill said yesterday.

"Right now, I'm feeling terrible," Gill said. "Early this morning somebody broke into our shop and stole some of our best bikes and a bunch of our bike tools."

The break-in was discovered around 8:30 a.m., after staff had opened the shop, which is a few blocks from the Kalihi police station.

Greg Franklin, a K-VIBE mechanic, said the heist appeared to be the work of professionals, who torched their way into locked cabinets after they had broken into the bike shop warehouse.

Franklin said the Grinchy thieves made off with some of the program's classic bikes and most expensive repair equipment.

K-VIBE collects donated bikes and teaches local residents how to repair and ride them safely. New owners earn their bikes by fixing them and learning basic repair in the process.

Since the popular program began in February, some 300 bikes have been donated and repaired through the exchange, Gill said. While the program attracts youngsters, Gill said, owners range in age from 6 to 60.

"We work mostly with kids — and as they fix them up, they earn the bike and get a bike to ride around and live a healthy life," he said.

Gill said the theft didn't kill the Christmas spirit. The shop was open during its regular hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. yesterday.

"There is no way we will let the bad guys get us down," he said.

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.