Vandals target Christmas decorations in Marlton

MARLTON, N.J. (WPVI) -- Some residents in Marlton, New Jersey woke up to discover that vandals targeted the Christmas decorations in their neighborhood.

Christmas ended on a sour note for the residents of Westbury Chase after vandals went through their neighborhood on Thursday night.

"Every year for the past 20 years or so we set up this manager scene," said Ed Dillon.

It's a Dillon family tradition. They go to midnight mass in Philadelphia and then return home to place baby Jesus in the manager.

But the statue was gone when they woke up Friday morning.

"It's sad that especially at this time of the holidays, that people would think of vandalism and things like this," said Dillon.

When Dillon started looking around for the missing baby Jesus, he noticed something protruding from the storm drain across the street - it was one of his neighbor's reindeer.

Mike Verrone found out when Dillon knocked on his door.

"We deal with pranks here and there but around Christmas and then to steal decorations and break them like the reindeer that was stuffed into the storm drain," said Verrone.

They retrieved the reindeer, but its head had been broken off.

It's been enough to deflate the Christmas spirit around here.

"It puts a sour note and it's upsetting for the children to see and again it's just unnecessary," said Verrone.

Police got a number of reports of similar vandalism in the neighborhood. They suspect it may be a group of kids with nothing better to do.

Dillon is hoping his baby Jesus shows up safe and sound somewhere. If not, there will be another one here next year.

"We'll overcome. We already have some plans of where we can go and get another one but again it won't be what's been a part of our family and a part of our life for 20 years," said he said.

At least one neighbor has video surveillance cameras. Police are hoping they captured an image of the vandal - it's suspected he's a mean one, probably covered with green fur.