Dec 28, 2007 7:03 pm US/Eastern
X-Mas Grinch Makes Off With $10,000 Worth Of Gifts
Staten Island Man Allegedly Ransacked N.J. Shore Towns
OCEAN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) ―
Authorities in New Jersey say they've brought the curtain down on a real-life Christmas Grinch.
In one neighborhood he's known as the Grinch who stole Christmas -- literally.
Police say as packages were being delivered a Staten Island man, identified as David Oakes, was stealing them from doorsteps. They said he made off with $10,000 worth of deliveries, many of them gifts that should have gone under Christmas trees.
According to authorities, his favorite items were electronics and toys.
Oakes was finally caught on Dec. 21 after police say someone on Middlebrook Drive in Ocean Township called to report a man in a pick-up truck had just stolen a box from the front porch of her neighbor's home.
Authorities believe Oakes -- now charged with four counts of theft -- started his stealing spree three weeks before the holidays, targeting several shore towns.
Police say Oakes would even follow delivery trucks to homes, walk up to the door, ring the bell, and if no one answered, take off with the boxes on the doorstep.
"I never thought that somebody would steal boxes from doorsteps," said Sam Boodaghians of Ocean Township.
Oakes' neighbors on Staten Island are shocked.
"Yeah, that's him but he wouldn't do such a thing," one person said.
The 40-year-old is out on bail but no one answered the door at his home on Knapp Street.
Police say Oakes has only been charged in Ocean Township, but charges against him are also pending in Long Branch.
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