Grinches Target Holiday Decorations
By Tom Mustin
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (CBS4)- Investigators hope witnesses come forward to help them catch vandals who may be linked to a rash of crimes involving holiday decorations in Highlands Ranch.
"I just want my deer back," said Highlands Ranch resident Kim Chapman.
Surveillance video from Kim's home shows a hooded grinch stealing a Christmas deer from her front yard.
"Two o'clock in the morning, some kids pulled up in a car. He was walking up, put his hood over his head, grabbed it and took off," she told CBS4's Tom Mustin.
Kim has MS. She made an entire deer family by hand, before being diagnosed.
"I made this when I was able, and now I can't remake them," she said.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says the crime is one of at least six involving thefts or vandalism of holiday decorations in the same area, over the past few days. A still picture from a surveillance camera on Saturday shows a man seconds before decapitating an inflatable snowman.
"I'm just sad for the kids. We had Thomas the Train for eight years," said Chance Hastings.
Hastings and her husband came home Saturday to find their holiday inflatables shredded in the middle of the street.
"I'm just sad for the kids. Every time they pull up they're like, our yard's so empty now," said Hastings.
Over the weekend, other residents reported inflatable Santas with their throats slit.
According to the sheriff's office investigators, several victims reported hearing juvenile voices during the crimes. So far, detectives have no leads.
And with no suspects, and a heartbroken family missing a deer, Chance Hastings has a message for the grinches who have flattened the holiday spirit in Highlands Ranch.
"It's just destructive. It makes me sad for somebody to be thinking they can do this and it's okay," said Hastings.
Detectives are asking for the public's help to solve these crimes. Anyone with any information is asked to call the Douglas County Sheriff's Office at (303) 784-7880.
Tom Mustin is CBS4's Weekend Anchor. He has been with CBS4 since 2002, and is always looking for great story ideas. Connect with Tom on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @TomCBS4.
