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�Grinches� give back stolen nativity scene By Jill Briskey Four young Grinches were trying to prove that they did not have garlic in their souls or termites in their smiles when they attempted to return a stolen outdoor nativity scene Wednesday. A group of Medford teens � acting out the part of Dr. Seuss�s green, furry thief � admitted to stealing the decorative animals and figures of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus from John Jackson�s home on Columbus Avenue the evening of Dec. 13. Those decorations were valued at $200. A light-up gingerbread man had been stolen just the week before. "It kind of puts a damper on the spirit," Jackson told the Mail Tribune Saturday. Most minor vandalism or theft cases remain unsolved and slip into oblivion. But this time, luck was on Jackson�s side. When the teens read about Jackson in the newspaper, they felt guilty and decided to return the decorations, said Sgt. Terry Larson of the Jackson County Sheriff�s Department. Sheriff�s deputies pulled over a vehicle at about 1 a.m. Wednesday on South Stage Road. It was filled with teens who were carrying the stolen ornaments, Larson said. "They said they read the newspaper article and felt bad. Apparently, a couple of them felt a little guilty," Larson added. "They admitted to stealing them." The teens told deputies they had been planning to drop the decorations on Jackson�s doorstep with a note. So deputies decided to lend a helping hand. According to Larson, the teens personally returned the ornaments to Jackson in the company of deputies. Jackson, who had replaced the stolen nativity scene with a new one, was still thrilled to get his old set back. He�s even got bigger and better plans to decorate next season. "I think there�s is enough public awareness now that this won�t happen again," he said. "It turned out to be a beneficial thing." Joshua Trautman, 18 and Brandon Maley, 18, both of Medford, were cited and released for second-degree theft following the return of the ornaments. A 15-year-old Medford girl and 16-year-old Medford boy were referred to the Jackson County Juvenile Department for theft. Two other juveniles, who were not involved in the theft, were cited for curfew violation. Larson said the sheriff�s department has investigated several cases where outdoor ornaments have been stolen or vandalized in the county this season. Jackson�s decorations were the most valuable, he added. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.