WHO stole Santa's helicopter? The decoration, with attached rope lighting, was the centrepiece of the Montague family's lighting display in Witton Gilbert, near Durham.
But the family woke on Saturday to find the decoration missing from the roof of the garage next to the house in Norburn Park. Carol Montague said it was still in place at midnight on Friday.
She said: "They have gone to some trouble to take it, because whoever did it placed the wheelie bin next to the car, which is all scratched on the roof, to get up onto the garage roof. It has 396 bulbs and weighs 4.65kgs, so it's quite bulky."
Mrs Montague said they bought the £60 decoration from a TV station and it is quite uncommon. She said: "It's just such a mean thing to do at this time of the year. After all, it is Christmas and it's really upset the children."
Anyone who can help is asked to contact Durham Police on 0191-386 4222.
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