Security footage from a home in Vancouver’s Kerrisdale neighbourhood clearly shows a man grabbing Christmas decorations from the front lawn, and then casually walking away with them.
The camera is designed to warn people when they are being captured on video, but even when the thief hears “you are currently being recorded,” he doesn’t seem to care.
“I think they just know they can get away with it,” said homeowner Allen Hsu.
He was at home late Tuesday night, and his kids were already in bed when the thief was on the lawn.
Hsu told CTV News he was aware the camera had been triggered, “but didn’t think much of it. I thought maybe my neighbour walked by.”
When Hsu looked out the window, he noticed it was unusually dark, and then eventually realized his family’s Christmas decorations had been stolen.
“I’m so angry,” he said.
“People who are stealing Christmas decorations are, to me, just lowlifes.”
The security footage also shows a shadow of what could be another man waiting up the street, so Hsu believes there were at least two people involved.
Vancouver police confirmed the incident had been reported, and estimated some $500 dollars worth of decorations had been stolen.
“The reality is, they got away. I lost my decorations and you know, next week is Christmas,” said Hsu.
The family plans to install more cameras and is debating buying more decorations to put up next year because they don’t currently have the money to replace what was taken in time for Christmas.