CAPE CORAL, Fla.- Some Christmas bandits are stealing cheer from families in Southwest Florida - everything from yard displays to Christmas lights reported stolen from front lawns.
John and Gloria Goulet, from Cape Coral, told Fox 4 they love decorating their home for the kids in their neighborhood;
"We really love it because the kids enjoy it so much."
But in the past couple years, pieces of their display have gone missing. Causing the couple to started locking them down.
"It defeats the whole purpose, when you have to chain something down so no one steals anything, it's like, that's not Christmas, but it's worth it."
Cape Coral police sergeant Dana Coston told Fox 4, holiday decoration theft has become more common recently;
"Some of the electronic and inflatable lawn fixtures that people will put out in their yard are targeted by other adults who are wanting to use them for their own displays."
Sgt. Coston said the best way to protect your decorations is to keep an eye on them and ask neighbors to call police if they notice anything suspicious.