A Port Coquitlam family is devastated after someone stole several rare and valuable inflatables with a Nightmare Before Christmas theme from their front yard over the weekend.
And among the prize pieces stolen early Saturday morning (Oct. 29) was a nearly 12' Jack Skellington inflatable arch.
"They stole the heart of the display. That’s what they did," said Melanie Lee, who said her young daughter is so distressed by the theft she doesn't want to go out this Halloween.
Meanwhile, Coquitlam RCMP have released a description of the suspects and are asking the public for assistance in the theft from the home at Lynnwood Avenue and Huber Drive.
Police say they received video surveillance which showed two suspects taking the items before leaving in a dark sedan.
The suspects are described as:
- Caucasian male, 6’ tall, 40-50 years old with a goatee and wearing a dark baseball hat, dark sweater, dark sweat pants and carrying a bag.
- Caucasian female, 5’4 tall, slim build, 30-45 years old.
Meanwhile, $1,000 reward has been offered for a return of the stolen items, which include;
- Jack Skellington inflatable arch
- Sally and the Professor inflatable,
- Jack Skellington animated replica that sings
- Nightmare Before Christmas projector.
Lee said her four-year-old girl can't understand why someone would steal items that were put up in the yard to gladden the hearts of people living in the neighbourhood south of Victoria Drive near Burke Mountain.
The family has been collecting specialty items from the iconic Halloween-themed movie since moving to the neighbourhood over a year ago — an endeavour that included taking special trips to the U.S. to pick them up.
It's a popular movie played on "repeat," said Lee who said her daughter loves the character of Sally and would hug the inflatable each night since the display went up Oct. 1.
"It is something we did for the neighbourhood and the kids love it," said Lee, who said people would stop to watch the display, which was lit up and showed images from the 1993 film.
However, Lee speculates that the Nightmare Before Christmas inflatables are either for sale or have already been sold.
She's been checking online re-sell websites and social media with the help of friends and supporters and hopes that by putting the word out that someone will report the items, with the goal of eventually returning them to the family.
As for the thieves, Lee says they probably live in the area and likely cased the home, so they knew where the electrical cords were, and were able to walk away with the items in seven minutes.
"I’ve got pictures of them. She looked at the camera. They just didn’t care," said Lee, adding, "You can see it's for a little kid. Why would you do it?"
Anyone with information about the theft is encouraged to contact Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and report file number 22-28733.
