Like many people, perhaps, Plant City's leaders are now learning that Christmas was more costly than anticipated.
More than 100 extension cords and other electrical equipment were stolen from downtown public Christmas displays, City Manager Greg Horwedel said at the Jan. 23 Plant City Commission meeting. The cords likely were stolen for the scrap value of the copper wiring.
The thieves made off with 112 extension cords with a combined length of 3,750 feet from illuminated displays at McCall Park and the nearby train depot. Ten 50-foot cords powering the depot's train decoration were stolen, replaced and stolen again, according to a report prepared by Horwedel.
Extension cord caps, connectors and an $850 controller also were taken.
The city lost nearly $17,000 worth of equipment and more than $4,000 in labor costs tied to the thefts, according to the city manager's report.
"I'm just outraged and disheartened that someone would damage our Christmas lighting to the point it would cost the city, in labor and repairs, $17,000," said Commissioner Mike Sparkman. "That is outrageous.
"Every effort should be made next year to be sure we secure that in some manner."
Paying a police officer to guard the displays overnight would be less expensive than the loss incurred this season, Sparkman said.
Plant City police have solid leads in the case and expect to take action soon, Horwedel said.
Underground copper wiring was recently uprooted from the Strawberry Festival grounds resulting in damages and a loss of about $5,000, said Sparkman, the Florida Strawberry Festival Association chairman.
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