WATCH: How police say the ‘Grinch’ stole Christmas

MADISON, Ohio (WJW) — Village police are searching for the “Grinch” who stole an 11-foot-tall, inflatable Christmas decoration based on the Dr. Seuss character from a resident’s yard on Sunday, Dec. 10.

The theft was reported from a home in the village’s Square’s Acres neighborhood, according to a Facebook post from police.

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It’s been there every Christmas for the past four years and it’s always brought out a chuckle as folks pass by. And now it’s gone — taken in the middle of the night.

“Once I saw the video, after it was gone, the individual had come over, un-staked it all — each individual stake — and unplugged it and they took the whole base and picked the whole thing up and away they went,” said the owner, David Ott.

It was a part of the first celebration of Christmas when he first bought his home in Madison. Every summer, it’s part of a big Christmas in July party he has every year for his family and friends.

Why would some one take the time to steal an old Grinch? Whatever the reason, losing it, David said, makes Christmas a little less bright for his family.

“It’s not something that you’re just going to go to the store and buy. They don’t make this one anymore. I can’t just go and replace it and you definitely can’t replace the memories behind it,” he said.

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Madison Village police put out pictures of the suspect, who has a prominent star-shaped tattoo on his right calf.

David said other decorations in the yard weren’t touched and while he’s glad for that, the big Grinch was the star of the yard every Christmas.

Other folks liked too, and David said he’s touched by the number of folks who have reached out to him — because it meant a lot, not just to him but to a lot of others as well.

“The community support — it’s been phenomenal. I literally can’t thank them enough to have everyone behind me and rally to get this thing back. It’s a good feeling, especially this time of year,” he said.

Ott hopes the man with the star on his leg will have a change of heart like the Grinch did. He just wants the Grinch back — no questions asked.

Anyone who can identify the suspect is asked to call the police department at 440-428-3421.

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