How the Grinch stole Christmas — one power cord at a time

CEDAR RAPIDS — Multiple extension cords needed to power up public Christmas tree light displays across Cedar Rapids have been stolen in the last couple weeks as police look to arrest the thief or thieves.

“Whoever this Grinch is, like the story goes, is kind of stealing holiday joy,” said Nikki Wilcox, director of strategic development for the Cedar Rapids Economic Alliance. “It’s a little upsetting because this is something that we are more than happy to do every single year.”

The cords have been stolen from light displays at downtown’s Greene Square, a pocket park in the MedQuarter at Third Avenue and Eighth Street SE, and at NewBo City Market.

The first theft happened shortly after lights were turned on Dec. 1 for the annual city tree lighting ceremony. Cords were stolen from lights in the trees around Greene Square, which are provided by the downtown municipal district, and from lights at the pocket park, which are provided by the MedQuarter district.

Both districts decided to replace the extension cords, but the new cords were quickly stolen also. The cords had been chained and zip-tied in place before both thefts. A transformer owned by the city and used to light up the large snowflakes around Greene Square also was stolen, according to Wilcox.

The large donated Christmas tree in Greene Square has remained untouched, but the rest of the Christmas light displays in the area will stay dark until “the Grinch” is caught, Wilcox said. The alliance spent $300 replacing the cords the first time they were stolen, and nearly $6,000 for a contractor to string lights among 22 trees in Greene Square — which now can’t be turned on.

Between Thursday and Friday last week, extension cords were stolen from two light displays at NewBo City Market, according to Executive Director Julie Parisi.

The market has a 25-foot Christmas tree with a light display that had — before it was stolen — a 75-foot extension cord connected to it. Another extension cord, which was connected to lights on a couple of spruce trees by the entrance doors of the market and was suspended from the awning over the trees, was cut, Parisi said.

“This might seem like an effort in futility, but we’re going to replace them and hope that we either catch someone in the act or that they don’t come back again,” Parisi said. “I’m guessing they’re going to get cut or stolen again, but I also believe in the spirit of Christmas and I just want to have the lights on.”

Another cord theft happened between 6 and 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at the parking lot next to Paramount Theatre, on Third Avenue and First Street SE. The cords powered lights in trees along the street.

The Cedar Rapids Police Department has been investigating the thefts using camera footage from some of the areas where the cords were stolen. Cameras in Greene Square showed someone taking the cords, but police haven’t been able to positively identify the person in the video. The Tuesday morning theft happened on private property near multiple businesses that have cameras, so Wilcox said she’s hopeful the thief can be identified.

“It’s just very disappointing that Greene Square’s going to be dark, and that … some of those trees right along First Street are going to be dark, and it’s all because of this person, or people, who are stealing the extension cords,” Wilcox said.

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