Watch: Thief caught on camera stealing $300 reindeer decoration in southwest Miami-Dade

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. ā€“ It looks like the grinch has made an early appearance before the holidays have even started.

A Christmas crook in a mask and hoodie was caught on camera early Monday morning after stealing a ten-and-a-half-foot tall inflatable reindeer from a front yard in southwest Miami-Dade.

Local realtor and homeowner Kathrin Rein says she bought a pair of reindeer and put it outside her home near Miller drive and 87th Avenue.

According to Rein, when her husband left around 5 a.m., they noticed one of the reindeer was missing and their tech-savvy son Leonardo Feistl reviewed the security footage.

Rein told Local 10 Newsā€™ Liane Morejon that she and her family were in the holiday spirit and like many families, decided to decorate a little early.

ā€œIt had been outside for two weeks, said Rein. ā€œWe started decorating prior to Thanksgiving because we love the holiday season.ā€

After reviewing the surveillance video, Feistl inferred that the thief knew exactly what he was doing.

ā€œHe looked like a professional,ā€ said Feistl. ā€œHe wasted no time-- unplugged it, wrapped it up and was gone in less than 30 seconds.ā€

Rein said that she doesnā€™t know what the world is coming to after an incident like this.

ā€œI was sad,ā€ she said. ā€œIs this what the world is coming to? That we have to steal front yard decorations?ā€

For this family, itā€™s about more than losing a friendly face.

ā€œYou know the whole thing is not about oh look at those poor people they only have one reindeer,ā€ said Reid. ā€œItā€™s more about right or wrong and I just think people think they can get away with anything nowadays-- and itā€™s just not right.ā€

Rein said the reindeer is worth about $300 and confirmed that she filed a police report and will be bringing the remaining reindeer inside for the rest of the holiday season.


About the Authors:

Liane Morejon is an Emmy-winning reporter who joined the Local 10 News family in January 2010. Born and raised in Coral Gables, Liane has a unique perspective on covering news in her own backyard.

Ryan Mackey is a Digital Journalist at WPLG. He was born in Long Island, New York, and has lived in Sunrise, Florida since 1994.