Theft of Grinch from Penticton Christmas display is really something only a grinch would do

A Penticton family is hoping a bit of publicity will help convince a Christmas grinch to return a stolen Christmas decoration – that happens to be a grinch.

Chanel Hughes says her family has a large, traditional outside Christmas display on Granby Avenue in Penticton known as the Christmas house.

She says the family awoke yesterday morning, Dec. 3, to find a life-sized Grinch character missing from the display, and appealed on social media for its return. The decoration has yet to be returned and the family has reported the theft to police.

Hughes says the family has been placing the Christmas display in front of their house for at least 25 years.

Some candles went missing a few years ago, but were thrown back on the lawn a couple of years later, she says. 

The Grinch was constructed with a metal frame inside, so is pretty heavy, Chanel says. It has straw and newspaper inside for stuffing, and the Santa suit is the same one that used to be worn by Chanel’s father.

“It’s over 50 years old and has a lot of sentimental value. This was going to be the last year it was used to dress the Grinch,” she says.

The family is hoping the recent publicity over the theft will help them locate it, or convince whoever took it to return it.

“All this attention has given us a little boost –  a hope that we’ll get it back,” she says.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to tips@infonews.ca and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.