Scrooge criminals are spoiling Christmas by stealing presents and wrecking decorations.
Vandals were seen trying to pull down a festive display in the garden of a home in Heath Road, Wivenhoe.
They pulled up outside the house in a van late on Tuesday night.
Det Sgt Roger Napier, of Colchester CID, said Christmas decorations "attract people who like to spoil people's enjoyment".
He added: "They think it's funny to pull them down."
In a second case, in Cambridge Road, in the New Town area of Colchester, burglars broke into a garage to steal valuables.
They got away with Christmas gifts as well as frozen food stored in a freezer in the outbuilding.
Anyone with information about the crimes should call police on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111
Published Thursday December 18, 2003
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