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Thieves steal holiday spirit Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell John Jackson stands among the remaining holiday decorations outside his Columbus Avenue home. Over the past two weeks, vandals have stolen a 3-foot gingerbread man, two candy canes and an entire nativity scene � figures of the baby Jesus, Joseph and Mary � leaving only some straw. Medford home owners lose elaborate decorations to Grinches By Bill Varble Forget Jim Carrey. There�s a Grinch on the loose in Medford. People or Grinches unknown stole a nativity scene from in front of John Jackson�s home as he slept Wednesday night. Dr. Seuss� mean creature couldn�t stand to see the Whos in Whoville celebrate Christmas, so he stole gifts, decorations and even the roast beast. The local Grinches first struck two weeks ago, stealing a 3-foot gingerbread man and two candy canes from Jackson�s home on Columbus Avenue. Then, Wednesday night, thieves took the entire nativity scene � figures of the baby Jesus, Joseph and Mary � leaving only some straw. "Apparently the gingerbread man wasn�t enough," Jackson says Thursday morning, standing near a plastic Frosty the Snowman and pointing past Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer to an empty manger. The bad guys even took the extension cords the figures were plugged into. Adding the final insult, somebody left a bag of garbage in the yard. Jackson and his wife decided after the first robbery to leave floodlights on to discourage theft. "Apparently that helped them to see what they were taking," he says. He estimates the value of the stolen decorations at about $300. He reported the crime to the county Sheriff�s Department and to his insurance company. He has no suspects. Jackson�s Christmas lights were among those featured in a Mail Tribune story about Christmas decorations last year. Most of the display is far from the bedrooms in the house. Jackson estimates he has $1,000 worth of lights in his yard. He�s not above shopping for choice toy soldiers or similar items on the Internet. "This year, I added a sheep and a donkey," he says. "I try to increase it every year." Admitting he�s a holiday decor freak, he says he comes by it honestly. His father, who also lives in Medford, always put up elaborate Christmas light displays. "I�m just trying to share the spirit," Jackson says. "I like seeing the traffic stop when it�s all lit up. I came home the other day, and there was a family taking pictures of their two kids with Rudolph." He pauses. "It kind of puts a damper on the spirit," he says. "If they want the stuff, they�re going to come and get it." Reach reporter Bill Varble at 776-4478 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.