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Family Heartbroken After Thieves Ransack Their Outdoor Christmas Decorations

 

MORENO VALLEY (CBS) — We haven't even passed Thanksgiving and the grinches are already out!

The Rudd family was shocked to find that thieves had ransacked their outdoor Christmas decorations Monday night, stealing most of the expensive setup they had just put up.

The family said sometime last night between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. thieves came and took a portion of their decorations.

"They brought tears to my eyes because we put a lot of work and a lot of heart into it," said Sandra Rudd.

The family spent a hefty penny on these decorations too -- $1,600 in total.

"I'm just a middle class man trying to make people smile, put a smile on people's faces, and they take it away from me," said Ken Rudd.

It's something the two parents didn't get to enjoy much in their own childhoods, which makes it even more worthwhile to them.

"We actually grew up really poor and I remember being a kid and watching other families put up Christmas decorations," said Sandra.

Now putting up decorations together has become a Rudd family tradition. Young Nathan enjoys fixing up the yard just as much as his mom and dad.

"I get home from work about 5 o'clock and I'm out working on it until 11:30, 12 o'clock at night," said Ken.

The reward is the satisfaction they get watching passersby enjoy their nightly Christmas light show.

"They stop, they take their family photos in front of our hosue, they actually physically sit out on the curbs and watch me build stuff and put it up and hang it," said Ken.

There are still some decorations left over, but the family now has them locked up in their garage after filing a police report on Tuesday morning. They'll be placed back out on the yard, but this time with a security alarm and a camera on the roof.

Christmas Decorations Stolen
(credit: CBS)

The Rudds also said they will follow through on their plan to put a collection box for the needy. The box will be placed outside starting Friday to gather canned and boxed food donations for those in need through their church.

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