Decking the halls with stolen Santas

WESTMINSTER, Calif. (AP) - December 17, 2008

Westminster police say officers responded to a disturbance call at the house of 48-year-old Vuong Pham, where they found rooms overflowing with wicker reindeer, plastic snowmen and inflatable Santas.

For weeks people in Pham's Orange County neighborhood had reported a steady disappearance of lights, figures and faux trees from their front yards.

Police say they connected the thefts to Pham after looking through his house and arrested him Monday on suspicion of grand theft and possession of stolen property.

Officer Cameron Knauerhaze says it took three trucks to take all the Christmas contraband to the station. Police weren't clear on the motive.

An Orange County Sheriff's deputy reached Tuesday morning did not know if Pham had hired a lawyer.

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