It’s the most wonderful time of year. Everyone is in the giving spirit, and the holiday decorations make everything look merry and bright. But in Sea Girt, New Jersey, a squirrel is playing the part of Scrooge, and threatening to ruin the magic of the season: The little critter has been caught vandalizing the town’s Christmas lights.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, it was discovered that someone had sliced and cut the Christmas lights that had been set up as part of a holiday display. Residents were shocked that one of their own would try to ruin such a fun tradition.
“Somebody is trying to steal the spirit of Christmas,” local resident Amy Dafeldecker told ABC 7. People speculated that it was probably area kids who were responsible for the damage. Fortunately, the lights were repaired and the town’s scheduled tree lighting ceremony went on as planned on Dec. 1.
Then there was a break in the case! Sea Girt’s police department took to Facebook to let everyone know that they discovered the real culprit behind the crime: a squirrel.
“The Sea Girt Police Department is proud to report that the case of our broken holiday lights
🎄
💡 has been solved. We are happy that no human acted as a grinch in this incident. The squirrel 
🐹was “charged” with criminal mischief and released on bail,” read their post.
Too funny! Residents were glad to learn the criminal was caught and found the whole thing pretty hilarious.
“This is the feel good story of the Christmas season.
💜,” wrote one commenter.
“That is hysterical. Make sure he has to pay it back with acorns,” wrote another.
Others claimed they had the bad guy pegged all along:
“When my family saw the news story we all looked at each other and thought the same thing. Squirrel. They have chewed on a few of our wires.”
A few others had some ideas on how to make sure he didn’t strike again:
“Spray the wiring, etc. down with pepper spray (surely you have some expired cans laying around). Might have to do it every day, but he’ll leave it alone then.”
“Vicks Vapo Rub on the wires keep the squirrels away!”
We’re glad this adorable mystery was solved! And hopefully the squirrels of Sea Girt find something else to chew on before Christmas.
[H/t Hello Giggles]