MECHANICSVILLE, Va (WRIC) – Shawn and Melissa Radley were furious after a ‘Grinch’ reportedly snuck onto their property overnight and took a large inflatable Santa display.
They first realized Santa was missing from their house on Pole Green Road around 1:45 a.m. on December 5.
“He’s 7 foot tall, just a Santa Claus from Wal-Mart,” said Shawn Radley.
The Santa Claus stood next to two other inflatables with the alleged thief leaving those decorations intact.
“It hurts,” Melissa Radley said of the theft. “It makes you not want to celebrate anymore.”
The Radley’s said they could replace the stolen Santa Claus, but expressed disbelief at the possibility of such cruelty during a season of giving.
“It’s just the principal that it is Christmas,” Melissa Radley told 8 News. “We do this for our kids.”
The family is asking whoever took the display to have a heart and bring it back.
“I was joking, saying ‘bring back Santa,’ and she was like, ‘I’m going to put a sign up.’”
The sign is now posted on one of the remaining inflatables, in hopes of touching the ‘Grinch’s’ conscience next time they pass the house. The Radleys have set up a monitor in case the alleged thief strikes again.
