Sentinel staff report–
The Citrus Heights Police Department is actively seeking to find the suspect responsible for the theft of a reindeer from a front yard display at a home off Mariposa Avenue.
Lt. Michael Wells told The Sentinel on Friday that officers received a report about the stolen Christmas decor and have been reviewing surveillance camera footage from area homes to help identify a suspect. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police at (916) 727-5500.
In an update to The Sentinel on Friday, the resident who reported the initial theft of her reindeer, Jubilee Christensen, commended police for their efforts in following up on her report.
“The police haven’t found our deer, but every cop looks for it like it’s become a mascot,” she said. The department has also offered to pay for a new deer.
Related: Mystery Santa gives new Christmas decor to replace stolen reindeer
Using a generous donation from an anonymous donor, known only as “Robert,” Christensen has already purchased a new eight-foot deer to replace the stolen item, but she said if the police department wants to donate a deer, “we will make that deer the ‘CHPD deer’ for all of the men & women who spent so much time looking for him.”
Lt. Wells offered several crime prevention tips for those with holiday displays, saying “although it’s unfortunate, we know that there are Grinch’s out there that will take advantage of the Holiday season.” Recommendations include using motion lighting and surveillance/doorbell cameras as potential deterrents.
Christensen said the experience has left her with an understanding of the human spirit.
“The person who stole it didn’t just steal it from us, they stole from the kids,” she said. “On the flip side, ‘Santa Robert’ kind of brought that back, so he kind of saved Christmas.”
Referring to an outpouring of support she said she’s received after posting about the theft on social media, Christensen said “we saw the worst of people, and we saw the best of people — there was more good people than bad people.”
