Gazette.Net: Brentwood resident’s surveillance video captures Christmas display vandalism
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Brentwood resident Jason Keirn said he is now forced to research better surveillance camera systems to monitor his seasonal Christmas decorations after his 14,000-light display was vandalized.
His video surveillance system captured an unknown person driving a dark, two-toned car pull up to the light display around 8:35 p.m. Dec. 28 but police could not determine the person?s identity from the video. the person kicked down one of Keirn?s Christmas trees and stole a number of plastic candy canes that were sticking out of the ground, Keirn said.
Keirn said he started to go to greet the individual when he noticed them on the surveillance system but found that his tree was destroyed and the car had left when he came outside.
?When I got out, I noticed my tree was knocked over, but by that time they were halfway down the block,? he said. ?I don?t have any enemies. I don?t have people that dislike me. It?s just kind of weird.?
Keirn said he called the Colmar Manor Police Department and filed a report. Colmar Manor Police Chief Brian Gibson said a suspect has not been identified and the surveillance footage does not provide a clear description.
Gibson said police are still investigating the incident and said officers patrolled the neighborhood and asked nearby residents if they had seen the suspect but have not been able to identify the individual after watching the video.
?We?ve been trying to identify who vandalized the display,? Gibson said. ?I don?t know why somebody would destroy a Christmas decoration unfortunately. That?s pretty sad.?
Prince George?s County police said targeted vandalism to Christmas displays does not appear to be an issue in the county.
?Vandalism does not appear to be particularly prevalent,? said Cpl. Evan Baxter, a police spokesman. ?The few that we have here are to cars, and usually that?s people breaking in to find a GPS or something and once they?re in they?re not finding anything.?
Keirn took down his display Friday and said he has begun researching more improved surveillance systems with high resolution, especially at night, when the displays are on and visitors are present.
He said this was his first year using a video surveillance system, which he said is why he felt it was safe to promote his home address to attract visitors to see the display.
Keirn had been receiving donations for Alley Cat Rescue, a Brentwood-based cat shelter and adoption center, in conjunction with the displays. He said he received 105 cans of cat food, four cat carriers and two plastic garbage bags of towels and blankets.
?I?m starting to work on next year?s [display] now, so I can have better camera system and figure something out with the surveillance,? he said.
