SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office says it's not trying to "slam people on social media" this holiday season, but it did want to give credit to its patrol bureau for arresting a woman who deputies described as a "real-life Grinch."
In a Facebook post, the agency writes, "if you steal from kids on Christmas, it may be because your heart is two times too small."
On Dec. 23, deputies say 42-year-old Bridget Wenzel was arrested and charged with six counts of petit theft. She's accused of stealing holiday lawn décor at least four times last Sunday.
This didn't just happen to one house, investigators say; she is accused of stealing from several yards in the Lake Sarasota and Grove Pointe neighborhoods.
Authorities say it was all recovered in her backyard.
"We hope this teaches Ms. Wenzel a lesson but more than that, we hope she gets the help she needs," the sheriff's office wrote in a Facebook post.
Anyone with information about the case was asked to contact the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Section at 941-861-4900.
