Grinch steals Christmas decor in Center Grove neighborhood
GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Center Grove. Neighbors have been working hard to get their homes festive.
But a grinch is trying to steal Christmas in one Center Grove neighborhood.
A thief stole a Christmas light projector out of one couple’s yard. It happened at Buckmoor Manor subdivision, off of State Road 135 near Olive Branch Road. The couple reported the theft on Sunday.
It’s the first light projector reported stolen to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office this season. However, according to Sheriff Doug Cox, there were several reported missing last year. Cox wants to stop the problem before it snowballs.
Neighbors say while the grinch may be stealing their decorations, that’s all he’ll get.
“Wrapped the pillars with some red rope. Kinda make them look like candy canes,” said Josh Glaser, who spent the day putting the finishing touches on his home.
“It’s an event for our family. We usually do the day after Thanksgiving. My daughter comes home from college. The whole family decorates,” Beth Rugenstein added.
But Christmas spirit in the neighborhood has deflated a bit, after a grinch began stealing people’s decorations.
Rugenstein recently bought a light projector.
“We put it out last week, and it didn’t even last the whole week before someone had taken it,” she said with a laugh.
The thieves didn’t stop there. At Olive Branch Manor, an adjoining subdivision, someone also targeted Glaser’s neighbor’s home.
“He caught somebody making off with one of his nutcrackers. (He) pursued, chased him down the street as much as he could,” said Glaser.
He didn’t catch the Christmas decor bandit, but he called police. Officers found his nutcracker thrown out onto somebody’s lawn.
“Just the effort it takes, then to have somebody just come along and take it: It’s not fair to everybody,” said Glaser.
Last year, Johnson County sheriff’s deputies responded to a number of Christmas decor theft reports, most in connection to light projectors.
Neighbors aren’t sure what to do.
“That’s the big debate. Do we buy another one just to have it taken again? I don’t know that there is any extra security that we can even add to it,” said Rugenstein.
Although the grinch so far has gotten away with stealing decorations, he won’t get away with stealing their joy.
“We’ve got plenty of things to be thankful for, and we are very blessed,” said Glaser.
Contact the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office at 317-736-9155 if you have any information that could help in this investigation.
