A real-life Christmas Grinch has left Santa and his gingerbread friends in pieces, after a vandal attack destroyed more than $100,000 worth of festive decorations.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner shared footage of the damage on social media on Tuesday, November 3, joking that “the Grinch is real and he owns a crowbar”.
“Sleigh it ain’t so. The Grinch is real and he owns a crowbar,” he wrote.
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“Vandals have smashed up the Valley Malls Christmas decorations in storage.
“Santa’s hat now comes with a crowbar as a permanent accessory and the gingerbread men have well and truly crumbled.
“They were tough cookies, but this was a crumbly thing to do. Whoever’s responsible, yule be on the naughty list for life.”
But the Lord Mayor’s festive wordplay did not land with everyone online, with some residents questioning why the damage was being made into a joke.
“It’s not a joke mate,” one commenter wrote.
“Why was a joke made out of this? The city barely has enough Christmas decorations as it is,” another said.
A third added: “How weird to make this into a joke post.”
Others questioned how the vandals had managed to access the decorations.
Council said a storage shed in Tingalpa holding the decorations was broken into late last week, with vandals smashing a window and prising open the door.
The walk-through Santa and gingerbread chair were badly damaged, with replacement costs estimated at more than $100,000.
“This mindless vandalism is disappointing for Brisbane families who look forward to Christmas every year,” Schrinner said in a separate statement on Wednesday.
“Thankfully, our Christmas trees, baubles and mirror balls are safe, so it’ll take more than one Grinch to stop the Valley Malls sparkling this Christmas.”
Council has requested upgraded security at the site, including new locks and an alarm system.
The remaining decorations, including Christmas trees, baubles, mirror balls and mistletoe, will still be installed in Brunswick Street Mall and Chinatown Mall.
Council said the incident was reported to police.
