Tis The Season… For A Holiday Grinch?

Someone’s on the Naughty List

JOHNSTON COUNTY — Bah humbug, indeed. A Johnston County family is dealing with a real-life Grinch after their outdoor Christmas lights were intentionally damaged not once, but twice this holiday season.

The mischief happened in the Cliffview subdivision off Son-Lan Parkway in the Cleveland community.

The family told deputies that on Dec. 4 someone used an object to slice through an electrical cord powering their Christmas lights. Just two days later, on Dec. 6, the same display was sabotaged again in a nearly identical manner — as if the culprit wasn’t content with one attempt at dimming the holiday cheer.

Authorities don’t yet know whether they’re dealing with a Grinch, a Scrooge, or simply someone who’s had one too many encounters with tangled light strands, but deputies say they’d still like to identify the person responsible.

While the damage came to only about $30, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said the goal now is to find out who tried to steal a little Christmas joy from the family — and perhaps remind the culprit that holiday spirit shines brighter than any cut cord.