Published: November 27, 2006 04:01 pm            

Santa's little helpers are thieves

MILWAUKEE — They were only spreading Christmas cheer, might be the thieves’ excuse.

But a Sheboygan homeowner didn’t see it that way when he awoke Friday morning to a yard full of holiday decorations stolen from around Sheboygan County.

Dan Bogenschuetz, 49, said his fiancee noticed about 30 neatly arranged reindeer, Christmas trees and other decorations outside his home about 60 miles north of Milwaukee.

“The funny thing is I probably could have won some contest for having all these decorations,” Bogenschuetz said.

He said they noticed the display when his daughter stopped over to drop off his grandson.

“When my fiancee opened the front door she said, ’Oh my god you better come out here and look at this,”’ he said.

They first thought it was a joke because he hosted the family’s Thanksgiving dinner Thursday night. But no family members came forward.

Everything was plugged in that needed to be, but the outlet wasn’t powered on, Bogenschuetz said.

“They must have been so upset,” he said of the thieves.

Police Lt. Tim Eirich said the thieves stole only a few items from each yard. Items have already been returned to about four homes.

Police made no arrests and had no suspects as of Friday, Eirich said.

        

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