Kankakee police search for Christmas decoration vandals

LIMESTONE, Ill. (WLS) -- Police are searching for vandals who targeted a Christmas display Sunday night in Limestone in Kankakee County.

Surveillance video shows a car pulling up in front an inflatable Santa and Christmas tree just before 2 a.m. Monday morning. Someone runs out of the car, slashes at the Santa and the tree until they deflate, then runs back to the car as the driver pulls away.

Homeowner Kim Astle and her family woke up to discover the ornaments deflated on their front yard.

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Astle immediately checked the security camera positioned in the home's front window and then sent a clip of the video to the Kankakee County Sheriff's Office, who then posted it to their Facebook page.

Detectives say pairing surveillance video with social media is a valuable crime fighting tool, and it has already helped them generate some leads in this case.

Astle says she first tried to replace the decorations, which cost about $60 each, but the store was sold out. Instead, she stitched up the decorations as best she could and is hoping they will last a couple more days through Christmas.

"Merry Christmas is about helping others and your neighbors," Astle says, "and this is the opposite of that.