CRAFTON, Pa. -- A young cancer patient’s homecoming was marred after a robber hit a Crafton restaurant, stealing a donation jar that was collecting money for the boy.

Ethan Loney, 2, returned home after a two-month stay in Children’s Hospital to fight his neuroblastoma. Local restaurateur Philip Gimbel had been collecting money at his Crafton establishment, Andrea’s, to help offset the costs of Ethan’s health care.

“I haven’t been able to go to work,” said Ethan’s father, Ken Loney, “and without work, there’s no income.”

Andrea’s customers had donated at least $200 for the family, but the Loney family will not see that cash. Over the weekend, a burglar pried open a drawer under Andrea’s cash register and stole the envelope holding the money for the boy.

“To take my money, I don’t care. That’s replaceable. But to take his money is wrong,” said Gimbel. “You don’t do that to a boy like that.”

Gimbel said the burglar broke in through a vent in the back of the restaurant and took nothing else but the envelope of donations.

“Who would steal from a sick little boy?” asked Gimbel. “Obviously someone who needs it a heck of a lot more. You wonder who would need it more.”

Earlier donations helped the Loneys pay their mortgage, a fact they said they are grateful for during the yearlong treatment of the boy.

“I hope they find who did this and throw the book at them,” said Ken Loney.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.