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A 'Grinch' has struck again—this time just west of Fort Worth, Texas.
Police in Parker County, Texas have arrested an ex-con for the alleged theft of Christmas decorations in Aledo after surveillance video captured the thief in action, NBCDFW.com reported.
Authorities received a number of tips from viewers after local media, including NBCDFW.com, published the surveillance photos and video on Tuesday. Police arrested the suspect Dana Brock, 43, at her home Wednesday morning, according to The Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler told the Star-Telegram that investigators believe Brock may have been hanging the stolen lights on other houses as part of a holiday-lighting business.
"[A Hurst, Texas resident] said [Brock] strung lights (on her home) and then they heard about her arrest and said, 'Uh-oh, maybe these lights on our home are stolen,'" Fowler told the newspaper.
Investigators also found a number of laptops inside Brock's home and she remained in jail Wednesday afternoon, the Star-Telegram reported.
This is not the first time Brock has had a run-in with the law. She has served at least three prison sentences, NBCDFW.com reported: Her sentences include convictions for injuring a child, for credit card abuse, for possession of meth and for solicitation to commit murder.
Related: Phoenix cops replace sick girl's Christmas lights stolen by 'Grinch'
The surveillance video was captured by area resident Ashley Starnes and her husband, according to NBCDFW.com. On the video, they reportedly saw a grown woman stealing the wreath off their front door in the wee hours of Dec. 7 and then some Christmas lights from their yard a week later.
"I was mad at first, but Merry Christmas," Ashley Starnes told NBCDFW.com. "I guess she needs it more than I do."
The Starnes' were not alone. Police said at least four other area residents fell victim to the decoration thefts in recent weeks, according to NBCDFW.com.
"It's funny because it's unusual," Parker County Sheriff Lt. Mark Arnett had told NBCDFW.com.
"But the bottom line is, people could die over this," Arnett also told NBCDFW.com, adding his fear that a startled homeowner with a weapon could confront a thief.
Slideshow: Holiday season lights up
NBCDFW.com's Frank Heinz and Scott Gordon contributed to this story.
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Leave a Comment:
bitch.
Epic winning.
That's the right on man. You said it all.
Career criminals. Sometimes I start to believe that there really are aliens from another world. Maybe it's a vicious circle - too stupid to pull it off, too stupid to know you're going to get caught, again.
Punish her by a sentance requiring she take down 10 square blocks of lights and neatly packing them in the residents boxes. Then throw her fat A back in jail for another 3 years.
how dumb or her, but what about this is 'news'? Clearly the writer wants to destroy lives via finger pointing a tiny little person who did a minuscule crime as if it is a national security issue. Dear writer: you are lame, small time writer, who's story is obsessing over one insignificant person. Do not come to my neighborhood, we've had enough ruined by the media...so now that we are on the subject, lets talk about your crimes...im sure they will me much more interesting, heck you probably did this yourself just for the story.
Bryncft337 1.4, advertise much...?
I totally don't buy the "STAND YOUR GROUND" laws, but maybe we should widen the scope of "home defense" to include using deadly force anywhere on our occupied home and property to prevent the commission of a crime against our persons AND property.
The cops can't be everywhere, and I seriously doubt society would be worse off for the removal of these low-life scumbags.
It is a "2 fer 1". I bet almost every thief removed would be one less drug user.
"But the bottom line is, people could die over this," Arnett also told NBCDFW.com, adding his fear that a startled homeowner with a weapon could confront a thief."
I would consider death...a hazard of a thiefs' job...one less thief.
I agree. The only good thief is a dead thief.
George Zimmerman lost this argument and type of thinking initially. Think first before you shoot, are the life consequences worth it? Know for sure.
yeah, thats good logic, kill someone over $5 christmas lights...I see two potential criminals right here..^^
IXLR8:
There is a BIG difference between stalking a suspicious person and protecting home and property.
I have more than thought out the protection of my property. I hope I never have to, but any dead burglar on my property will be found with an unregistered gun with the serial numbers removed...whether they had one or not. Catch my drift?
So stay off my property.
I'm not anxious to kill anyone, but am totally fed up with drug induced crime.
If someone had shot this woman....how much effort do you think a detective would make with her previous record?
Road less: My home is my castle and I am the king. If I have to I will.
You just incriminated yourself Tom as all your data can be tracked to use against you in court. The gun with the filed serial numbers is a proscecuters dream so congrats!! LOL
"She has ran into"
The author should be jailed for criminal impersonation of a journalist.
thought the same thing
apparently he didnt get the orders from wastington: bigger fish to fry
She has prior convictions for injuring a child, credit card abuse, possession of meth, and solicitation to commit murder--all at the ripe old age of 43. One question: why is this woman not still in prison? Oh, yeah, that's right, she lives in Texas.
ouch, still here in Dallas we ALSO wonder WHY she is NOT in Prison ????
Liberals? ***shrug
Liberals don't have much clout here in Texas these days, Buds.
I thought Texas is a "3 strikes" state.
I thought they just automatically gave everyone the death penalty in Texas.
Maybe she was sentenced TO Texas.
On a bright note she was working for a living. Most people have gotten comfortable just sucking off the government. I'll take a thief over a disabled or unemployed thief anyday.
You would take a thief over an unemployed disabled person? Hmmmmm........
How can anyone argue with such a well reasoned generalization?
Just like Wall Streeters, bankers, insurance companies, and other conservative supported "capitalists"!
but honestly, WHY is she still on the Streets, and if she commits a crime using a GUN, EVERYONE will again blame the GUN....
That's because all guns should be banned. Yep, were're coming to take away your guns and there ain't a damned thing you can do but cry.
Ah where is the Christmas spirit. This woman has a personal problem more than petty theft. Lighten up ! ←pun haha
I think beatdowns need to be a part of the justice system. A little baseball bat action on the small timers.
Why didn't they strip search her with rubber gloves and touch all her private parts?
That's what they do in Texas! It's a fact..
Too bad,... The Texas troopers could have called their favorite bi-sexual gal and asked her to put on gloves to have fun with the gal..
That's what they do in Texas.......... it's good fun. Let your bi-sexual partner (trooper) have her way with somebody that has no idea what is going on..
Gay cops need love too, from what I'm reading all over Texas lately.................. Especially female gay cops.
I missed the part of that other article about the troopers being gay & bi-sexual. You didn't mention the part about strong pot smell coming from car & littering which is a violation of the law in Texas and most states. I'm not a fan of the DOT cops in Texas, because it's known they "stretch the truth" writing tickets, but I don't think they're gay; abuse their authority, yes.
Nothing to see here, move along.
Zheng, they found NO pot and possibly stole some perscription drugs from the people they pulled over.
Beatdowns are something akin to people who "beat-off"..
They think they're cool, they think they're strong and then they realize they pick on sissies that have no hope of winning any fight.. They continue on and make themselves look as pitiful as the decent people they pick on.
But young society still doesn't see it.. It's all about making others look bad, and if you can do that, maybe you'll look better than the pimple on society that you have become..
Your repugnant ignorance always outdoes anything good you could do.. You're still a child! And these Troopers are children without any conscience!
Dave: You nailed it. The lower they are, the more desperate they are to push someone else lower. Not the way it works in real life.
What a maroon
Awwwww... the Precious Princess got caught. Assuredly a patriarchal society forced her to commit crimes.
Rest easy, citizens, if our Princess even goes to trial it is doubtful she will receive a sentence akin to the sentence given to a despised, evil male for committing the same crime.
No such thing as an EX-con.
And it won't be her last, as long as the bleeding heart libs keep insuring that morons like this are released with only a slap on the wrist.
Letus, you couldn't be more right. I'm so tired of thieves being released over and over. It's all good for the libs until their neighborhoods are hit. Then it's a huge issue. The hell with the little guys.... Pisses me off.
They need to hit more judges and solicitors/lawyers. Maybe then the sentences would be more realistic.
Her sentences include convictions for injuring a child, for credit card abuse, for possession of meth and for solicitation to commit murder.
So this isn't like new behavior or anything.
It's nice to see people getting crime tips from Julian and Rickey. What happened? Did Mr. Lahey track her and Bubbles down?
what a grinch bitch!
That's NOT a woman... that's a big fat pig.
Shoot her and clean up the planet.