Thursday, December 20, 2012

Cops: 'Grinch' who stole Christmas (lights) nabbed

By NBC News staff

A 'Grinch' has struck again?this time just west of Fort Worth, Texas.

Police in Parker County, Texas have arrested an ex-con for the alleged theft of Christmas decorations in Aledo after surveillance video captured the thief in action, NBCDFW.com reported.

Authorities?received?a number of?tips from viewers after local media, including NBCDFW.com, published the surveillance photos and video on Tuesday. Police arrested the suspect Dana Brock, 43, at her home Wednesday morning, according to The Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler told the Star-Telegram that investigators believe Brock may have been hanging the stolen lights on other houses as part of a holiday-lighting business.


"[A Hurst, Texas resident] said [Brock] strung lights (on her home) and then they heard about her arrest and said, 'Uh-oh, maybe these lights on our home are stolen,'" Fowler told the newspaper.

Investigators also found a number of laptops inside Brock's home and she remained in jail Wednesday afternoon, the Star-Telegram reported.

This is not the first time Brock has had a run-in with the law. She has served at least three prison sentences, NBCDFW.com reported: Her sentences include convictions for injuring a child, for credit card abuse, for possession of meth and for solicitation to commit murder.

Related: Phoenix cops replace sick girl's Christmas lights stolen by 'Grinch'

The?surveillance?video was captured by area resident Ashley Starnes and her husband, according to NBCDFW.com. On the video, they reportedly saw?a grown woman stealing the wreath off their front door in the wee hours of Dec. 7 and then some Christmas lights from their yard a week later.

"I was mad at first, but Merry Christmas," Ashley Starnes told NBCDFW.com. "I guess she needs it more than I do."

The Starnes' were not alone. Police said at least four other area residents fell victim to the decoration thefts in recent weeks, according to NBCDFW.com.

"It's funny because it's unusual," Parker County Sheriff Lt. Mark Arnett had told NBCDFW.com.

"But the bottom line is, people could die over this," Arnett also told NBCDFW.com, adding his fear that a startled homeowner with a weapon could?confront?a thief.

Slideshow: Holiday season lights up

NBCDFW.com's?Frank Heinz and Scott Gordon contributed to this story.

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/19/16025016-police-grinch-who-stole-christmas-lights-arrested-in-texas?lite

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