Philadelphia Police Search For "Serial Grinch" Stealing Holiday Decorations, Gifts
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia Police say they are looking for a thief who struck at least twice, ten minutes and blocks apart in the Fairmount-Art Museum area, stealing holiday wreathes hanging on front doors.
Surveillance video released by police shows a smiling, cigarette-smoking suspect taking a wreath from a home in the 2400 block of Aspen Street then, minutes later, from a second home a few blocks away.
"So we got like a serial Grinch going around the 9th District," commented Captain Frank Banford.
"I mean he's taking them to sell, he's not going home to his family and hanging it on the door and making his children happy, I'm sure," the Captain continued.
"But he may be spoiling other children's lives, they don't need this kind of thing on Christmas," he said.
Capt. Banford told CBS 3's Walt Hunter the two thefts happened around 10:30 pm on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, still more surveillance video provided by police shows another thief busy in the early morning hours December 1 along the 100 block of Queen Street in Queen Village, trying car doors until he finds a vehicle unlocked, stealing two watches worth $4,000.
"A lot of people are shopping," Lt. John Stanford cautioned, "and unfortunately people leave their bags and other belongings inside vehicles, which is an 'easy get' for thieves."
Beyond the dollar value of the decorations and other items stolen, police and neighbors told CBS 3 the holiday thefts steal a little of the joy from the holidays, not just for the victims, but for everyone.
Philadelphia Police hope if you recognize either suspects in the videos, you'll help detectives play Grinch by providing information that will help them make arrests.
To submit tips call 215-686-TIPS or text to PPD TIP or 773847.
