Christmas Decorations Stolen From Chelmsford Neighborhood
CHELMSFORD (CBS) -- The spiral-lit Christmas tree was Emma McCarthy's favorite decoration until she found it ruined in her yard.
"My parents thought it was the wind, but I saw footprints and I knew it wasn't," she says.
Emma checked the security video from around her Chelmsford house. The video is from around 8 p.m. on New Year's Eve, and it appears a woman runs into the yard and struggles with the tree.
"I was really mad, but I also felt a little thankful because everyone else in the neighborhood got their stuff stolen," she said.
The tree was left because what you don't see is a neighbor coming out of their house spooking the woman and the people in the car.
The thieves stole nearly two decades of memories, including a kneeling Santa Claus with baby Jesus.
Robert Noble had made that decoration for his wife 18 years ago.
"I think it made my wife more heartbroken than me," he says.
Several neighboring homes were also hit for their decorations. But Robert and Emma, who coincidentally live on St. Nicholas Avenue, might need the most help getting their Christmas spirit back.
"You lose your trust in mankind," Robert said. "It ruins the whole idea of Christmas."