Christmas Light Thief Strikes 3 Houses On One Staten Island Block
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A hunt was under way late Friday for a thief who stole Christmas lights displayed outside homes on Staten Island.
As CBS2's Brian Conybeare reported, the New Dorp section of Staten Island is decked in holiday cheer, with houses all lit up with Christmas lights on virtually every block. But on Jacques Avenue, some Grinches have stolen some fancy new laser lights.
"I'm angry, to be honest with you," said Josephine Holmes. "I feel sad and then I get very angry."
Holmes said thieves took off with nearly $800 in laser lights her family had lighting up their house.
"Professional type lights that I understand when I purchased them, they're used Disneyland and Disney World, so they're high tech lights," Holmes said. "They're not 'as seen on TV'-type lights."
The only laser the thieves left is mounted on the roof, out of reach. And Josephine Holmes' husband, Michael, moved most of their other decorations inside because they got hit three years ago too.
"I felt we put out an effort and they stole Christmas from us," Michael Holmes said.
And it turns out three different families on the same block had the same thing happen this week.
"Yeah, I'd call them a Grinch!" said Frank Wayson on Staten Island.
And Josephine Holmes has one message for the Christmas culprits who took her lights.
"I want them back," she said. "Drop them in front of my house. They belong to me. You stole them."
All three holiday thefts happened three nights in a row this week, on one block of Jacques Avenue. All three homeowners told CBS2 they have notified police.
