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Reindeer Theft Has Family Feeling Less Merry

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By SAMARA SODOS

News Channel 8

Published: December 16, 2008

BRADENTON - Stephen Ierulli says it's not the cost of what's lost that bothers him; it's all the Christmas memories tied up in it.

"They've been with us forever," Ierulli said.

Every year, Ierulli assembles 11 wire-frame reindeer, fully loaded with lights, on his front yard. Seven reindeer were stolen over the weekend.

"We put them outside and they're gone," Ierulli said. "The herd has been thinned."

Some of reindeer were falling apart, but because he's had them since his oldest children were young, Ierulli said he feels compelled to fix and keep the same reindeer outside their Bradenton home every year.

The Ierulli family has an elaborate Christmas display outside their home on 47th Street West, featuring lights, lighted plastic figurines and religious sculptures. A large Italian family, the Ierullis host family gatherings every year.

Just before 4 a.m. Saturday, the family's high-tech surveillance camera system caught at least one person stealing five of their wire-frame reindeer. The next night, at around the same time, someone grabbed two more.

The family of six installed the security system as an extra safety measure.

"You don't steal ever, and you don't do it off somebody's lawn and Christmas," said Ierulli's wife, Jennifer.

Stephen Ierulli said the family feels violated.

"The following night, when it happened again, the Italian blood gets boiling," he said.

Ierulli said he is considering "playing vigilante" and waiting for the thieves in the middle of the night to catch them in the act.

The total cost of what was stolen is only around $200, but Ierulli says the memories that are connected to this specific herd are priceless.

"It's something you can't really replace."

They filed a report with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. A deputy told them the video may help catch whoever is playing these reindeer games.

"I'm hoping the gentleman that did it couldn't afford the reindeer and took it to their house to make their kids Christmas a little bit better, " Ierulli said. "That's what I'm hoping."

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