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Christmas lights thieves leave family in the dark

Victoria Morley
20/12/2006

A MEAN-spirited thief has left an Offerton family heartbroken after stealing hundreds of pounds worth of outdoor Christmas lights, and their treasured snowman.

The Whiles family of Lindbury Avenue got a nasty shock when they woke up to find their snow icicle rope lights, fairy lights, coil Christmas tree and plastic Mr Frosty had been pilfered.

If that wasn't enough the mysterious meanie left a reminder of his visit - two solitary fairy lights dangling from their front door.

The family are in the dark as to why their house was targeted. Lorraine Whiles, 38, who works as a dinner lady at Banks Lane Junior School, said: "I just can't comprehend why anybody would want to do something like this.

"Whoever it was must have come prepared with wire cutters and a car to get away so easily. It's not very Christmas-spirited. I just feel so sorry for my two children."

It came as cruel blow to Pravin Whiles, 39, a learning disability nurse, who had spent three weeks wiring up the lights and cables.

"I'd just finished putting them up the night before. So you can imagine my despair when I saw they'd gone," Pravin said.

The theft, which took place in the early hours of Wednesday , December 13, has left seven - year - old Cerys and Nathaniel,10, heartbroken.

"We've tried explaining that we can't afford to replace the decorations to the children but they are just gutted, especially about the snowman which has been with us for years. Cerys has been crying every night since it happened.

"It's so sad to see their disappointed little faces every time they walk past where the lights should have been," added Lorraine.

Ironically, the family had CCTV installed on their property but with all the excitement of the lights they forgot to make sure they had switched it on that night.

The light-fingered sneak could be harbouring quite a collection of figurines and lights after similar decorations were stolen from a house on Glenmoor Road only days later.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman urged households to be extra vigilant, lock doors and windows and keep presents out of view.

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