Vandals damage Christmas decorations at Danbury park

City volunteers transform space into Christmas in the Park each year

DANBURY, Texas – Just days before the small town of Danbury planned to celebrate the the holiday season in the park, police said vandals damaged the decorations.

Among the trees, slides and swings that make the Skrabanek Park in Danbury a hit with families, comes something special this time of year. City volunteers transform the space into Christmas in the Park, complete with cardboard snowmen, candy canes and the nativity scene.

"It's a tradition that we all grew up with," said Danbury police chief Myles Hopkins.

However, Hopkins said vandals tried to destroy it all by coming in the middle of Tuesday night to rip down lights and smash the Christmas cutouts. He said they even threw some of the decorations into the trees.

"For someone to take this away from the kids is awful," said resident and mother Danielle Penney.

Call the culprit a Grinch or Scrooge. Chief Hopkins gave the suspect a different name.

"I would think they're cowards," he said.

Many in Danbury are furious and have already cleaned up some of the mess. Decorations are being repaired at a local shop. Hopkins said residents have raise at least $500 as a reward for information leading to the vandal's arrest and conviction.

"I think it's great the community is getting together to show the person who did this that you can't hold us back," said Penney.

Hopkins said the damage could be at least $1,000. But the Christmas in the Park party will definitely go on as planned Saturday afternoon and they still expect hundreds of people to come out for the free event.

"Rain or shine, that event is going to take place," said Hopkins.

According to Hopkins, the reward money raised by the community will be added to the reward offered by the Brazoria County Crime Stoppers.

If you know anything about this crime, give police at call at 979-922-1551 ext.3 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-460-2222.