Police seek 'would-be Grinch' in holiday light thefts

CLEARWATER (FOX 13) - Officials are warning locals about a string of holiday display thefts taking place in the Tampa Bay area.

Clearwater police say at least five thefts have gone down within the past 10 days near Missouri Avenue and Lakeview Road.

In one case, investigators say the “would-be-Grinch” targeted a 93-year-old woman’s high-tech laser light display. The woman told police that her children bought the device for her so she could light up the outside of her home for Christmas.

It was valued at about $40.

In other nearby cases, someone swiped large inflatable decorations from people’s yards. One featured Santa on an airplane; others featured Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and another one showed a snowman in a snow globe.

Each of those pieces was valued at $100 or more.

As a result, police are urging residents with holiday decorations to record their serial numbers or put identifying marks on their items.

Anyone with information regarding the thefts is asked to call the Clearwater Police Department.