A mum has hit out at "cruel" yobs that have "ruined Halloween excitement".
Ashley Parry-Carmichael has always "made an effort" for the spooky season with Halloween decorations and lights, transforming her garden in Westbrook Road, Belle Vale, for all to enjoy. In a bid to get her own two children, and nearby families excited, she bought a new inflatable witch decoration and outdoor lights with music.
Having put them up on Sunday evening, the family of four went to bed but woke up to devastation. The large inflatable witches were no longer there and Halloween lights were broken.
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Ashley told the ECHO: "I always make an effort, it was something I was brought up with so I put all the decorations out. This year I bought a new inflatable witch and we have an outdoor power socket lighting up the lights in the bushes and trees.
"I’d even tied it down because of the wind but these people have stolen the decoration and in doing so have broken all of the lights. It’s so deflating. My husband got up for work and they were just gone.
"I’ve spent this money on the kids, the times we are in not everyone is flushed with cash we are just doing what we can for the kids. That same night my neighbour said her door knocker had been taken."
But since posting on social media, the surrounding community has been rushing to offer their support. Ashley added: "I’ve had so much kindness, people offering to drop off cupcakes. Everyone has really come together. I’ve lived here for six years and never had any trouble but my children are so upset.
"We only put them up the night before and they’ve come and stolen them. It’s £70 worth of stuff I’ve had to replace but now we’ve gone for smaller decorations and put them in the porch, we shouldn’t have to but that’s what we have to do.
"It’s a knock on effect now because it makes me not want to put the Christmas decorations up. My neighbour has done a Halloween display but kept it to her back garden. It’s for the kids and it’s disgusting that people have looked at it and thought they were going to just take it.
"I live a stones throw away from Belle Vale Police Station as well. My daughter was so excited. But we are going to invest in a Ring Doorbell. It’s not fair on the kids, I know I’m feeling deflated now but at the end of the day it’s for them. As a community, we shouldn’t let them ruin the experience for the kids."
Posting on social media, Ashley wrote the thieves "ruined all the excitement" for her children as she described the individuals as "cruel". Merseyside Police confirmed they are investigating reports that Halloween decorations were stolen from a property in Belle Vale. A spokesperson said: "We received a report at around 10.30am on Monday, October 24 that several items had been stolen from a property on Westbrook Road in the early hours of the morning.
"Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook with the reference 22000781508. You can also call 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111, or their online form at."
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