In a total Grinch move, someone is stealing Christmas.
No, not the Baby Jesus. Somebody is pilfering poinsettias in Coral Gables, and the thief has been caught on camera.
Surveillance video shows the woman uprooting poinsettia plants from the flowerbed outside the Baptist Health South Florida headquarters building on Red Road.
“Yes it bothers me,” said Baptist Vice President Cindy Cancio. “It's not really the value of the plants as much as it is the season."
The first theft happened Sunday night about 11:30 p.m. The video shows the woman pulling 17 plants out of the soil. She puts them in a bag then peddles off on her bicycle.
The plants were replaced on Monday, only to be stolen again early Tuesday morning. Seven plants were ripped off in the second crime.
Cancio has coined a name for the incident, "the bah-humbug caper" because it is "during the holidays and not something nice to do,” she said.
Anyone who recognizes the plant thief should call Coral Gables Police at 305-442-1600.
