Webster's own "Ms. Grinch" made headlines after being caught on camera brazenly swiping more than $1,000 worth of Christmas gifts right off a family's porch, according to local police. The clumsy caper unfolded on Harris Street, where doorbell footage broadcast the woman's face to Webster and beyond. "I spent all weekend, I was up till 2:00 in the morning finding the best deals and the best coupons, and I got jewelry and T-shirts and dashcams," the homeowner, Amanda Rodriguez lamented in a CBS Boston interview. With a family of five to celebrate the holidays, her husband Christopher Rodriguez echoed the financial strain of the theft, "Any dollar amount that I can scramble to get gifts and stuff for my family, I live paycheck to paycheck, so it's just difficult when you save up money to buy gifts and then someone just takes them."
The Rodriguez family has now resorted to a bit of creative justice, placing a decoy package adorned with the thief's image captured on their doorbell camera and a straightforward message: "We caught you on camera Ms. Grinch. Bring back our stuff!" As per the report from CBS Boston.
The woman's holiday heist has been cut short as she has been identified and is currently cooperating with authorities, some of the stolen property has even been recovered, according to a NBC Boston report. Her name remains undisclosed, pending further action.
The snatch-and-run incident highlights a growing issue in neighborhoods across the board, porch piracy. Webster Police Chief Michael Shaw stressed the importance of community vigilance in a CBS Boston piece, advising locals to "Talk to your neighbors." He went on to suggest alternative options for parcel delivery such as Amazon's locker service or shipping packages to one's workplace.
While the season of good cheer has been marred for some on Harris Street, hopes remain high for holiday recovery and the spirit of generosity shines in the face of adversity. Amanda Rodriguez, despite the theft, expressed a readiness to extend aid to those in need. "There are so many other ways to get help, like if you need money or you don't have a way to do Christmas for your kids, there's places you can sign up. If you'd knocked on my door...I would help you," she told CBS Boston.
