Woman arrested for stealing children’ Christmas presents from below the tree
Erica Rothenbuhler, 44, was likened to a real-life Grinch after she was arrested accused of nicking the gifts from a hotel which had been left under a Christmas tree for youngsters
A real-life Grinch has been arrested for stealing kids’ presents – from underneath a Christmas tree.
Erica Rothenbuhler, 44, is accused of nicking the gifts from a hotel which had been left under a spruce for youngsters.
Investigators allege she entered the lobby of a Red Roof Inn in St. Petersburg, Florida, US, on Christmas Day and “began looking under the tree.”
She was then captured on CCTV taking six toys which were left there for kids, police said. The pilfered presents were worth $48.
An arrest report does indicate who the items were intended for or whether they had been collected in a toy drive for local kids.
When police subsequently located Rothenbuhler, she reportedly “made spontaneous statements saying that she thought the gifts were for the kids in the building”, but noted she confirmed she “does not have any children.”
Rothenbuhler was arrested for theft, which would normally be a misdemeanor charge in Florida, but the matter was upgraded to a felony due to her prior convictions for stealing from a Winn-Dixie supermarket and a Wawa convenience store.
She has been locked up in the county jail in lieu of $5,000 bond. She faces a maximum of five years in prison if convicted of the third-degree felony.
An arrest affidavit from the arresting officer reads: “On Christmas day, I was notified that a female stole kids Christmas gifts from underneath the Christmas tree located at the red roof inn at 4999 34th Street.
“The video showed at 00.28am, the defendant entered the empty lobby and began looking underneath the tree. The defendant then took six total toys totaling $48 which were for kids before leaving the lobby at approximately 00.35am.
“The defendant made spontaneous statements saying that she thought the gifts were for the kids of the building even though she does not have any children.”
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