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Grinches stealing Christmas decorations

By MICHAEL BECKER Chronicle Staff Writer

A gaggle of Grinches has been at work around Bozeman this Christmas, making off with parts of Nativity scenes, plastic reindeer and poinsettias from homes around the city.


 These incidents have left some unfortunate homeowners wondering just who in Whoville has been creeping into their yards in the middle of the night.

The Bozeman Police Department has received reports of stolen Christmas decorations since the start of December, said Sgt. Greg Megargel.

“As a general rule of thumb, this sort of thing occurs every year,” Megargel said. “It even happens when it's not a holiday.”

The department has received seven reports of stolen ornaments, ranging from inflatable yard ornaments to twinkle lights, Megargel said.

“One report is too many, but seven for this town is not a lot,” he said. “We would hope there weren't any at all, of course.”

He also said many people probably don't report the incidents, like Brian Kenney, whose 3-foot diameter wreath with a peace symbol in the middle was stolen from his home in south Bozeman on Friday.

“My thought was that they thought it was pretty cool, and I hope it's hanging in somebody's room somewhere,” Kenney said. “

Kenney said he didn't think the prank was mean-spirited, but he did hope the thieves would bring the wreath back for Christmas. As of Christmas Eve, that had not happened.

Near downtown, homeowner Victoria Drummond was saddened to find a pair of silk poinsettias missing from her porch the morning of Dec. 14.

“It just makes you want to rethink a little bit about what you want to put outside, but I'm trying to resist that feeling,” she said.

She has since replaced the poinsettias and, in a letter to the Chronicle, said she would give decorations away to those who need them, rather than have them stolen. So far, she hasn't had any takers.

Despite it all, Drummond is trying to focus on the brighter side of the holidays.

“If stuff gets stolen, I'll replace it,” she said. “Christmas is still here, and it's alive and it's in the community all year long.”

Michael Becker is at mbecker@dailychronicle.com

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