Grim scrooges have been caught on CCTV footage vandalising Christmas lights across five different villages – and locals have been left saddened and confused by the events
Killjoy vandals have cut the Christmas lights on homes and displays across five villages.
One balaclava-clad misery was captured on CCTV in the act and police have appealed for help to nab those responsible. An inflatable Santa had also been punctured and a projector for lighting stolen in a separate raid. Locals are at a loss as to why the mean-spirited scrooges would want to spoil the festive fun.
Christmas lights were cut in the Suffolk villages of Combs, Great Finborough, Onehouse, Battisford and Stanningfield over two nights. Luke McGann was among the residents targeted. He said: “To think they want to spoil the fun for those who want to celebrate Christmas. We normally do the display for the kids in the village so when they come from school they enjoy seeing it in the evening time.
“It’s devastating and I just hope they have a conscience or they get found fairly soon by the police.” John Emsden, who has been putting up lights in the area for 34 years, added: “This is the first time I’ve ever had anything like this.”
Stanningfield parish councillor Ruth Duchesne told how lights on the Christmas trees around the village were also cut. She said: “I don’t understand why someone would want to do such a thing. All the hard work that goes into funding the lights and putting them together as a community. I don’t know why.”
PC Simon Lant of Suffolk Police said: “Why someone decided to carry out this period of mindless vandalism is not clear. But it has brought hurt, as well as a financial cost, to many residents in the area, depriving those living and visiting of the colour and joy that these lights bring to people, young and old.”
The police are seeking information or CCTV footage from the nights of December 5 and 6. No arrests have been made. Luke, who is from Great Finborough, said he was “gutted” the display was targeted. “We normally do it for the kids in the village so when they come from school they enjoy seeing it in the evening time,” he said. “We get a lot of attraction from people coming past to have a look.”
During strong winds last week, Mr McGann said he noticed his lights had gone out at some point between 8pm andm 9pm. He went outside to find the wires had been cut, while his snowfall projector had been stolen.
He said: “To think that someone can have the audacity to come on to your property, go up to your front door and cut all the wires. To think they want to spoil all the fun for those who want to celebrate Christmas. It’s a shame that people think they’ve got the right to come out and destroy a bit of fun. It’s devastating and I just hope they have a conscience or they get found fairly soon by the police.”
John Emsden, who has been putting up lights in Onehouse for 34 years, added: “I feel terrible, I didn’t expect anything like this to happen. This is the first time I’ve ever had anything like this.” Ruth Duchesne, a parish councillor from Stanningfield, said decorated trees in the village also had their lights cut. I don’t understand why someone would want to do such a thing,” Ms Duchesne said.
“The village looks beautiful, it’s part of a celebration and I don’t understand why and who would have the time? It’s pointless. All the hard work that goes into funding the lights and putting them together as a community. I don’t know why.”
