2 Women Caught On Camera Stealing Holiday Decorations In Massapequa

Updated Tuesday, Dec. 15 12:15 p.m.

MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Grinches were at work on Long Island stealing holiday décor from front lawns recently, but cameras were rolling.

As CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported, police on Monday had images of a pair of female thieves.

The offenders struck in the dark, but the clear-as-day surveillance video caught them dashing up to a decked out holiday display on a Massapequa lawn.

"Two girls came along and decided that they wanted it," said victim Jean Aiello.

The Aiello family's 10-foot tall inflatable yule slide -- a playful display of penguins and polar bears – had gone missing Sunday morning.

But the surveillance cameras ensured that it didn't take too long to find out who was naughty. The Aiellos installed them just the night before, and they captured a white sedan circling the block at 2 a.m. – and then the two young women on a mission.

One of the young women was even seen glancing up at the camera.

"It's the holiday season. We're just trying to make things special for the little ones," Jean Aiello said, "and it's just a shame that people have to touch other people's things and steal. That's wrong."

Indeed it was not the Christmas story that Joe Aiello wanted to tell his 2-year-old granddaughter.

"They shouldn't do it. They ruined the holiday. That's it," he said. "You know, you can afford it. We'll replace it and we will go on."

"It's bad," added neighbor Linda Nislow. "It takes away the morale, a little bit, of, you know, the season."

The latest perpetrators were not even the first Grinches to steal Christmas cheer near Boston Avenue.
Eric Rissanen puts a lot of heart into his 200-piece display -- only to have teens steal from him.

"They're just Grinches," Rissanen said. "I mean, you try to bring joy to people's lives by putting up a nice, colorful decoration, and if you're going to steal it and rob it, leave it alone."

Nassau County police late Monday were investigating the latest case -- and yet another holiday decor theft in Island Park.

Karen Duffey's family is still in disbelief by what the surveillance cameras they recently installed revealed late Saturday night. A woman stepped from an SUV to steal candy cane lollipops the family had just trimmed their yard with, WLNY TV 10/55's Long Island Bureau Chief Richard Rose reported.

"I went to the video and i felt violated," John Duffey said.

On top of the loss of their holiday decorations, the Duffeys say they're equally incensed by the brazeness of the deliberate theft.

"It's horrible, I don't know how can someone can walk up on someone's property and think they have the right to just take their stuff," Karen Duffey said.

The Aiellos said inflatable penguins may have been on a local scavenger hunt list.

"It's just a shame people just can't pass by and enjoy," Jean Aiello said. "They have to touch and destroy other people's things."

With the surveillance video as sharp as it is, the Aiellos hope someone will recognize the two thieves -- or better yet – they hope the thieves will somehow get the holiday spirit and return the decorations.

Late Monday afternoon, Nassau County police made an arrest in the Island Park theft. Tiffany Fischer, 31, was allegedly caught on camera stealing decorative candy canes was charged with petit larceny.

At Fischer's home, which also has many holiday decorations, her mother told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall to get off the property and that Fischer was not home.

The Duffeys said, if they get them in back time, they will proudly put their decorations up for Christmas.

"Everybody has hard times, you just don't do that to somebody," Karen Duffey said. "Absolutely not."