By Mary O’KEEFE

The Montrose Shopping Park Association is asking for the public’s help concerning holiday decoration lights that have been stolen on Honolulu Avenue.

The MSPA decorates the trees that line the shopping park along Honolulu Avenue every year. Lately they have been leaving the lights up throughout the year and adding new ones during the holiday season. For years this has been a tradition for Montrose that helps bring the feel of the small town holiday, but in the last two months real life has invaded the idyllic shopping park.

“Our lights are getting stolen,” said Dale Dawson, MSPA business administrator and event coordinator.

The new LED lights have been stolen from the trees and the multicolored lights have been stolen from the bushes. And it is not just a few strands being taken, but many, many strands of lights.

“And extension cords,” Dawson added. “Hundreds of lights and about $1,000 in repairs and [replacement].”

The strange thing is these thefts appear to be happening during the day, Dawson said. He bases this assumption on the fact that crews check the trees in the morning and find everything okay, then check again in the afternoon and find lights missing.

“We think they are doing it in such a way [the suspects] may appear to be part of a crew,” Dawson said.

He is assuming the suspect or suspects may even be wearing a reflective jacket, which would allow them to blend in; however, there is no evidence that this is the case – only that the lights are missing.

Dawson added that the lights are taped or strapped to the trees but that doesn’t seem to deter the thieves.

“The [suspect/suspects] cut the tape and straps,” he added.

When lights have to be replaced or repaired it is not just about the challenge of replacing the lights  but getting a crew out to repair and replace.

Earlier in October the MSPA decorated the town with bales of hay and pumpkins, and the pumpkins were stolen.

Dawson has told the Glendale police but has not yet made a police report, something he said he is planning on doing.

The GPD has only recently found out about the theft. They immediately sent out alerts to the community via social media, according to Tahnee Lightfoot, GPD spokeswoman.

“It is important for members of the community to remain alert when they are out and about,” Lightfoot said.

GPD will continue to investigate. And since it is not certain when these thefts are occurring, Dawson is asking for the public to call MSPA if they see anything suspicious.

“If they see anyone working on the lights they should call. Don’t worry that it may be our crews. It is better to know,” he said. “There is no harm [for us] to check it out.”

If the thefts continue, Dawson said, and the cost of replacement continues to climb, the MSPA may have to rethink the lights they have along Honolulu Avenue during the year.

To contact Dale Dawson call (818) 621-0350 or Steve Pierce at (818) 259-5195.

  Mary Okeefe