A Halloween decoration thief was captured on security video allegedly raiding a family’s front yard in Arizona, taking several spooky props—including a plastic skeleton dog adored by the family’s children.
Around 4 a.m. on Oct. 21, two tombstones, a fake skull and the skeleton dog, known as “Ellie,” disappeared from the Ostrander family’s lawn in Surprise, FOX 10 reported.
“It’s disappointing that we can’t even decorate our homes for Halloween without worrying about someone stealing from us,” Sydney Ostrander told the station.
The family did not immediately realize the decorations had been stolen. They began investigating after Ostrander’s mother contacted emergency services to report that a tree had fallen onto her van during the storm that swept through the area that night.
At first, the family assumed the strong winds had blown the Halloween decorations away. A review of their home security footage, however, appeared to tell a different story.
The video reportedly shows a woman stepping out of a vehicle and taking a skeleton decoration from a neighboring property before turning her attention to the Ostranders’ Halloween display.
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According to the footage, the alleged Halloween thief removes several items from the Ostrander lawn and then drives off in a Jeep.
The children were especially heartbroken to lose Ellie, the skeleton dog that had been part of their family’s front-yard display, Ostrander said.
“Although it may seem like just a Halloween decoration, Ellie was part of a family display that our children loved,” Ostrander told FOX 10.
Police estimated the stolen decorations were worth about $100. Ostrander nevertheless told investigators that she is “willing to prosecute” if the person responsible is identified, according to the outlet.
After the family posted the surveillance video online, other Surprise residents reportedly came forward with footage that appeared to show the same vehicle taking Halloween decorations from their properties.
Surprise police are investigating what may be a series of Halloween decoration thefts. Authorities have not announced any arrests or released a description of a suspect.