GREAT FALLS — Christmas and other holiday decorations are popping up in yards across town, which unfortunately has made some homes the targets of vandals.
Several people have posted about such incidents on"neighborhood watch" pages on Facebook in recent days.
The Great Falls Police Department is urging people to be proactive when it comes to protecting their property, and shared the following advice and tips on Facebook on Monday:
❗️Leave other people's things alone️❗️
Santa is not happy...we've responded to several complaints of vandalism or theft of outdoor holiday decorations.
Unfortunately it is very hard to catch these criminals as the crimes happen very quickly and the suspects scurry off into the night.
😡 An elderly community member had their decor destroyed
😡 Juveniles were seen using a knife to puncture inflatables
😡 Juveniles were seen smashing an entire yard of decor
😡 Several pieces have been stolen from multiple yards
Protect your decorations:
- Ensure you can see the decorations from inside your home
- Use locking cords
- Secure with zip ties, heavy weights, stakes into the ground, rope
- Keep decorations close to the house
- Use motion sensor lights
- Use security cameras
- Turn off displays at bedtime
- Post a big sign "Premises Under Surveillance"
