Teen 'grinches' stole holiday lawn decorations in N.J., police say
Three South Jersey teenagers were arrested after stealing candy-cane decorations from a Gloucester Township home, police said. Officers were patrolling the Mayfair Meadows development Monday near Cross Keys and Johnson roads after residents had reported thefts of holiday lawn decorations. Gloucester Township police said there have been seven reports of thefts involving Christmas decorations since Dec. 3 - plastic candy cane lawn deoorations and LED projector lights.
Three South Jersey teenagers were arrested after stealing candy-cane decorations from a Gloucester Township home, police said.
Officers were patrolling the Mayfair Meadows development Monday near Cross Keys and Johnson roads after residents had reported thefts of holiday lawn decorations. Gloucester Township police said there have been seven reports of thefts involving Christmas decorations since Dec. 3 - plastic candy cane lawn deoorations and LED projector lights.
Around 9 p.m. Monday, police stopped a Jeep Grand Cherokee after a resident called 911 to report suspicious activity outside a property on Santalina Drive, where the candy-cane decorations were allegedly taken.
Two 17-year-old girls, one from Haddonfield and the other from Haddon Heights, and a 17-year-old boy from Somerdale were inside the car - with the decorations in plain sight, police said.
A landscape rock stolen from a nearby business on Berlin-Cross Keys Road was also in the vehicle, police said.
Officers returned the stolen items. The three teens - whom Gloucester Township police called "decoration grinches" in a Facebook post - were charged with theft and released to their parents.
Police said they are investigating whether the teens are linked to any thefts in neighboring towns.
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