BELLEVILLE, ILL. (AP) -- St. Clair County Sheriff's officials say the three men they pulled over this week near a burglarized home insisted that the 20 wrapped gifts in their car were for friends.

They just couldn't identify any of the names on the gift cards.

The three are being held in the St. Clair County Jail pending burglary charges.

They were arrested with the gifts on Tuesday afternoon near a Belleville home that officials quickly realized had just been burglarized. Items were strewn about and a basement window had been forced open.

The home's owner was at work at the time, and she said most of the gifts were for her 4-year-old child.

Officials say they hope to get the gifts back to the family in time for Christmas.

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