Meet the Biggest Grinches of the Holiday Season
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iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Police are warning households of neighborhood thieves who steal packages and other holiday “Grinches.”
“It’s the busiest time of the year for holiday deliveries,” the San Diego County Sheriff’s department has warned the public in a statement. “Package thieves are on the prowl.”
Here are some recent “Grinches” who’ve stolen everything from Christmas trees to mailed packages.
1. Nebraska Man Suspected of Taking 26 Packages From Homes
A man in Nebraska is accused of taking $23,000 worth of packages from 26 homes.
The Bellevue Police Department said it recovered goods, including a $400 margarita machine, a check for $10,000 and cameras, from the home of David Horvath. Horvath, 24, has been charged with felony theft by receiving stolen property, according to the Omaha World-Herald on Wednesday.
2. Pennsylvania Man Caught on Camera Stealing Toys for Tots Donation Jar
A man is shown in a surveillance video of Just Press Play store in Manor Township, Pennsylvania, placing a Toys for Tots donation jar inside his jacket and then walking out of the store on Wednesday. The Manor Township police department posted the video on its Facebook page, saying the man had a “small tattoo on his right cheek” and was “wearing a hoodie with dollar bills printed on it.” Police then issued a warrant for a 24-year old man, according to ABC affiliate WHTM in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Police say the jar had $100 in it, WHTM reported.
3. San Diego Woman Accused of Stealing Packages With U-Haul
A Dan Diego woman who allegedly drove a U-Haul truck to steal packages from doorsteps was arrested after surveillance cameras identified the rented vehicle, police said on Thursday.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s department said Martha Lampley, 37, stole packages starting Nov. 21 until she was arrested on Nov. 29.
“A Grinch suspected in connection with the theft of holiday packages in the East County is in custody,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement. The loss of the packages is estimated at $1,000, department said. Among the loot, shown in police photos, is an electric guitar, shoes and a racing jacket.
Police returned the stolen items to some victims.
4. Hundreds of Dollars Worth of Christmas Trees Stolen
Several Christmas trees worth hundreds of dollars were stolen from a tree lot in Nashville, Tennessee.
The owner the lot Lena Trivette said one of her employees noticed four Christmas trees worth $100 each were missing on Wednesday morning.
“I mean, an eight to nine foot tree will take anywhere from eight to nine years to grow, so that’s a lot of time a lot of work invested into it,” she told ABC affilate WKRN in Nashville.
Trivette has traveled 325 miles to Nashville from North Carolina each year for the past five years to sell the trees, WKRM reported.
5. Family’s Outdoor Christmas Decorations Stolen
Some “Grinch” stories have happy endings. An anonymous “good Samaritan” replaced stolen Christmas decorations in Saginaw, Texas, after a mother posted a sign in the front yard scolding the thief.
Kristine Collins wrote in marker, “To the person that stole our Christmas decorations…thank you breaking a little girl’s heart. I hope you are proud of what you have done! Have a Merry Christmas! We will pray for you!”
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