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Ghoulish thief caught on camera stealing Halloween decorations from family’s lawn: report

By David DeTurris3 min readNew York Post
Ghoulish thief caught on camera stealing Halloween decorations from family’s lawn: reportGhoulish thief caught on camera stealing Halloween decorations from family’s lawn: report

“Although it may seem like just a Halloween decoration, Ellie was part of a family display that our children loved,” the homeowner said of a skeleton dog decoration.

A ghoulish thief was caught on camera swiping a host of spooky Halloween decorations from a family’s lawn, including a child’s beloved skeleton dog.

Two tombstones, a phony skull and a plastic skeleton dog nicknamed “Ellie” were snatched off the Ostrander family’s front lawn in Surprise, Arizona around 4 a.m. on Oct. 21, FOX 10 reported. 

A neighborhood street at night captured on a security camera, featuring a figure circled in red walking down the sidewalk.
Two tombstones, a phony skull and a plastic skeleton dog nicknamed “Ellie” were snatched from the Ostrander family’s front lawn in Surprise, Arizona around 4 a.m. on Oct. 21. FOX 10 Phoenix/Instagram

“It’s disappointing that we can’t even decorate our homes for Halloween without worrying about someone stealing from us,” Sydney Ostrander told the outlet. 

Ostrander said the family discovered the unfestive thievery after her mother reported to emergency services that a tree had crushed her van during a storm that night.

The family thought the decorations had been scattered by the wind – until a review of security camera footage appeared to reveal a thief.  

A black and white security camera image shows a woman holding yard decorations in a front yard.
The family thought the decorations had been scattered by the wind – until a review of security camera footage appeared to reveal a thief.   FOX 10 Phoenix/Instagram

Footage shows the moments the Ostranders’ festive decorations are stolen, as the Halloween killjoy gets out of her car and grabs a skeleton decoration from a next-door neighbor. 

The Halloweenie is then seen plucking decorations from the Ostradner’s lawn before jetting away in her Jeep, according to video. 

A security camera captures a woman in a dress stealing a skeleton decoration from a front yard at night.
The humbug is seen snatching the decorations from the Ostradner’s lawn before jetting away in her Jeep, according to video.  FOX 10 Phoenix/Instagram

Ostrander’s children are particularly upset about the loss of “Ellie” the skeleton dog from their front yard display, the ticked-off mom said.

“Although it may seem like just a Halloween decoration, Ellie was part of a family display that our children loved,” Ostrander told the TV station. 

A dog skeleton wearing a floral bandana sits on a table.
In the aftermath of the snatching, Sydney said her children are upset about the loss of “Ellie” the skeleton dog from their front yard display.  FOX 10 Phoenix/Instagram

The decorations were only valued at around $100, according to a police report, but Ostrander told investigators she’s “willing to prosecute” the thief, according to the outlet.

After the family shared the video of the alleged theft, other Surprise residents also provided surveillance video appearing to show the same vehicle targeting their festive decorations, the FOX affiliate reported. 

Surprise police are investigating the supposed string of decoration heists, though they’ve yet to announce any arrests or provide descriptions of a suspect.

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