Four people appearing to be teenagers tore through a Halloween display at a South Sacramento home over the weekend, slashing inflatables and damaging a ghost projector homeowner AJ Singh had set up for the neighborhood. Security footage captured the group attacking his display, and Singh said they took off. Similar video from down the street showed what appeared to be the same teens tackling another neighbor's decorations.
Singh, a local DJ who plays at community events, told FOX40 that the teens slashed his inflatables, disturbed other pieces of his display, and then left. He said he had three Halloween inflatables and a ghost projector damaged in the incident. Singh had bought skeletons, a Michael Myers figure, a Hello Kitty piece, a zombie sign and other decorations this year, all part of what he described as an elaborate setup meant to spread joy during the holiday.
A Report Filed, but No Word Back Yet
Singh said he filed a police report after the vandalism but had not heard back as of the report. According to FOX40, the Sacramento Police Department said the suspects had already left by the time responding officers arrived, and that officers provided Singh with options for documenting what happened.
Footage from Singh's property and his neighbor's camera appear to show the same group of teens moving between yards.
Singh Adds Cameras, Takes Down Decorations at Night
In response, Singh has added more security cameras to his property and now takes down parts of his Halloween display at night. He said the vandalism would not ruin his holiday spirit, and that he hopes those responsible will be held accountable. Singh added that he gives back to the community for children and felt sad seeing teenagers damage the decorations, saying people should find activities in the community rather than damage someone else's property.
How California Law Treats the Damage
Whether the case could escalate beyond a routine report may hinge on dollar figures. Under California Penal Code Section 594, vandalism causing less than $400 in damage is a misdemeanor carrying up to a year in county jail and a $1,000 fine, while damage of $400 or more can be charged as a felony punishable by up to three years in state prison and fines reaching $10,000, according to the Shouse Law Group. It's not yet clear how Singh's damaged inflatables and projector will be valued.
Homeowners dealing with similar losses may have some financial recourse. Standard homeowners insurance policies generally cover stolen or vandalized outdoor holiday decorations under personal property coverage, though payouts depend on individual policy deductibles, according to Lemonade.
Part of a Seasonal Pattern Across the Region
Halloween Insurance Claims Homeowners' insurance claims rise as much as 14% on Halloween compared with every other night of the year, according to Nolo.
Sacramento has seen this kind of thing before. In 2018, CBS News' Good Day Sacramento reported on a Natomas neighborhood incident in which a Ring doorbell camera recorded a suspect stealing Halloween decorations off a front porch.
FOX40 reporters Natalie Sierra and Noah Anderson said the station planned to air more in-depth coverage of Singh's case Tuesday evening. For now, Singh says he's not backing down from decorating his yard, even as he waits to hear more from police about who was responsible.
