Christmas: A Time for Taking (U of Missouri)
 

A frequently-occurring December tradition of sorts has cropped up at the U of Missouri this year, reportedly:

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/...s-decorations/

Excerpts from ^^:


Updated December 2, 2010 at 1:21 p.m.

Two University of Missouri students were arrested yesterday after admitting they stole Christmas decorations from several local families, police said.

. . . Officer Jill Wieneke said police took multiple reports of thefts Monday and Tuesday, and a neighbor of one of the victims gave police a vehicle description and a license plate number.

Officers tracked the vehicle’s owner to the Sigma Chi fraternity . . . . The owner of the vehicle said he had lent his vehicle to two other men, and the men admitted to police that they had stolen several items, Wieneke said.

Alexander A. Hanson, 18, and Jackson R. Hobbs, 19, each were arrested on a charge of felony stealing. Each man was released from jail after posting a $4,500 bond. The men were charged with felonies because the total value of the items was more than $500, Wieneke said.

Wieneke said Hanson and Hobbs said they were going to use the items to decorate their fraternity house. Among the items recovered were a metal Christmas tree, Christmas wreaths and white plastic statues of baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph as well as other Nativity scene statuary, such as a lamb, shepherd and camel. . . .

Comment I didn't see anything in the report about wise men or a wise man, but then a whole lot of wisdom wasn't displayed, if the report is reasonably accurate.

And In Iowa:

http://www.press-citizen.com/article...ught-on-camera

Excerpts:

Iowa City police are seeking the public's help in identifying three males suspected of stealing a wreath from the front door of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority house . . . .

Iowa City Area CrimeStoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of these suspects

And in Oregon . . .

An ABC affiliate reports:

http://kezi.com/news/local/197466

Excerpt from ^:

December 10, 2010
By Heather Turner
*PHILOMATH, Ore. -- Philomath Police say a small group of college students is responsible for stealing a Christmas tree from a man's yard.*

Police say six Oregon State University Sigma Chi fraternity members are responsible for cutting down and stealing the tree. . . .

The man whose tree was cut down wants those responsible to pay a small amount; he says he'll add a few dollars and donate it to a local food bank.

Sheesh. Everytime something pops up I think, "Please don't be Sigma Chi. Please don't be Sigma Chi." Santa's not listening.

Oh, LaneSig, at least with this one in Oregon the tree's owner didn't seem totally outraged. He just wants an apology and a food bank donation. That doesn't seem unreasonable to me. Maybe he was young and foolish a time or two in the past. I know I was, and some dinosaurs were willing to forgive me.

Oh Lawd! This reminds me of the fraternity boys (yes boys!) at my school that got arrested for stealing $300 worth of Christmas decorations from a local nursery. They actually could see the decorations inside the house from the road. Smart! The same guys got in trouble that semester for shooting a deer from inside the house. The deer was outside the house, in case you were wondering.

I know, I know.

I was pleased to see the Oregon man's request.

But was it deer season?