Reindeer Exit Front Yards--But Not of Own Accord

“Calling all cars! Be on the lookout for a short, round man with white beard and dressed in red. Prone to laughter. Suspected in the theft of 13 tiny reindeer from Westminster lawns. Approach with caution: He’s carrying a list and checking it twice.”

Actually, Westminster police don’t have any suspects. And Sherri Monarcky doesn’t have any reindeer anymore either.

Last week she had nine, including the red-nosed Rudolph, parked on her front lawn. Now they’re gone, along with the attached sleigh and toy Santa. Two more reindeer-and-sleigh displays also went missing, for a total of 13 reindeer, three sleighs and two toy Santas.

Which means either the real Santa has hijacked himself a new ride, or there’s a burgeoning black market in hot reindeer.

Police took a report on the thefts, which occurred early Sunday. Detectives couldn’t be reached Friday for comment.

Monarcky said the thefts took the heart out of a four-year effort by neighbors in the 6400 block of Iroquois Road to fill the street with Christmas decorations.

“We were saving and buying and adding and adding and now they’re all gone,” said Monarcky, who estimated she lost about $800 worth of deer decorations. “The thing that’s very depressing is they want to sell them and make money off them. There’s no way we can replace them. [Stores] are all sold out.

She said one neighbor spotted the rustlers but didn’t make the connection until the reindeer were discovered missing.

“The young man across the street said it was around 3 in the morning and he saw a little white Honda with lights off, door open and running,” Monarcky said.

She said the street’s holiday display has enjoyed growing popularity. Monarcky said she’s tired of explaining where the reindeer went, so she put up a sign.

“Someone stole our reindeer and that’s why they’re missing. Scrooge is alive and well and still stealing the Christmas spirit,” she said.

Whoops. Sounds like a new suspect.

“Calling all cars! Be on the lookout for older man in nightdress and stocking cap, icy heart and scowling face. Keeps repeating ‘Bah, humbug.’ May be accompanied by ghost. Approach with caution. Could be contagious.”