Reindeer robber- Bill Phelps, who has a large collection of Christmas decorations, is shocked someone stole his reindeers. 57220

By Lia Bichel
THE Grinch has started early on his quest to steal Christmas.
Endeavour Hills residents have told the News about stolen Christmas items from their house or yard last week.
Patricia Phelps said she was shocked to find two decorative Christmas reindeers were missing from her front yard last week.
She said Christmas lights were broken and a Santa on a ladder was also vandalised.
“It made me feel terrible. It ruins the spirit of Christmas,” she said.
Ms Phelps said she and her husband decorate the house in thousands of dollars worth of ornaments every year, but now she was worried to display them.
“My husband and I have been decorating our house for 18 years and people come every year to check out the decorations. It puts smiles on the kids’ faces,” she said.
“I have a beautiful nativity scene but I don’t know if I should put it out.”
Endeavour Hills resident Sue Stanway said a special Christmas present for her daughter Madison had also gone missing from a bungalow at her house.
Ms Stanway realised the gift was missing last week, after planning on decorating the house earlier than usual to surprise Madison who was recovering from dental surgery.
“It is a sleigh with Santa which I gave her last year. It had optical lights and sang. The toy cost $180,” she said.
“She is very upset, and when she’s upset I am upset. I never cried so much. I am on a pension and I can’t afford to buy her another one.”
Anyone with information about these or other incidents can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.