Beach officers return gifts stolen from front porches

By Elisabeth Hulette The Virginian-Pilot December 23, 2014

VIRGINIA BEACH

Alice Phillips was on the phone when the gift arrived the first time.

She and a Florida friend exchange Christmas presents every year. She had sent him a Virginia ham. But by the time she got to her front porch, she said, his gift to her wasn't where a delivery person had left it.

Turns out, her parcel was one of more than 100 stolen off city front porches this month. Over the weekend, police announced the arrest of a suspected Grinch: Leigh-Anne Larson, 49, is charged with two counts of grand larceny.

Now, officers are returning the gifts, a cache that includes movies, clothing and toys, from Legos to marshmallow shooters.

Detective Chris Cutrer spent his day off Monday on the delivery route on Maharis Road in Bayside.

"It's cold but it's fun. You don't always have a good interaction with the public as a policeman," he said, so it's nice to have positive encounters.

He laughed at a suggestion that he wear a Santa hat.

Cutrer said about 150 of the gifts are unwrapped and, so far, unmatched with owners. Police are asking potential victims to call 385-2724.

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Beach officers return gifts stolen from front porches