The Marion County Sheriff's Office said it's looking for a Grinch who stole Christmas presents from a family in the Ocala area.
At the Bohanon family's home, on Southwest 84th Terrace Road in the Marion Oaks area west of I-75, everything screams Christmas, from the decorations to the tree and to the pile of movies on the shelf next to where a TV was stolen that included a copy of "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" movie.
The family was at its 10-year-old daughter's Christmas program Thursday when a real-life Grinch left a large, dirty footprint on the holiday — and on the front door to the home. Deputies said the thief or thieves tried to kick in the door.
"They couldn't get in the front door, so I guess they pulled the vehicle around the back," homeowner Stacie Bohanon said. "Mattresses were turned up, televisions ripped out of the wall, every single present was taken, at least most of them."
They took everything from underneath the tree and tore the fishing wire holding the tree up, knocking it to the ground.
"I'm just really mad, I don't know what kind of person could do that," said Brooke Pixley, Bohanon's 18-year-old stepdaughter. "To take someone's gifts when it's obvious they (belong to) little kids. They went into our rooms. My little sister has Monster High and One Direction on the wall, so it's obvious it's a little girl, and you are going to take her gifts?"
Bohanon said there were nice things that were stolen that the family had to work extra shifts to pay for.
"We work hard for what we have, and we don't have a whole lot," she said. "It just sucks when it's violated and taken from you."
With less than a week until Christmas, and her three daughters' gifts gone, Bohanon is doing the best she can to keep her Christmas spirits up.
"Maybe if we all stood around in a circle and sang, he would bring our presents back," she said, with a chuckle. "I don't know."
The family said it doesn't want anyone to donate gifts to them. They prefer any donations to go to local charities.
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call Marion County Property Crime detectives at 352-402-6030.