Hand-painted Charlie Brown gang stolen from festive display in Oak Bay Park
With less than a month to go until Christmas, the Grinch (or a number of Grinches) have stolen Charlie Brown and some of his friends from Oak Bay Park.
The theft of Charlie Brown, his sister, Sally, and his dog, Snoopy, from the park at the corner of Foul Bay Road and Oak Bay Avenue was noticed sometime Monday afternoon.
The Mayor of Oak Bay says he recalls that the handmade figures have been part of the municipality's festive light display at the entrance to the community for the past 15 years.
The display also included two of Charlie Brown’s friends and his lonely little Christmas tree made famous in the 1960’s Christmas Special.
"They have been there for a very long time," sad Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch. "My understanding is they were donated to the municipality by a local resident that made them and painted them."
Murdoch says the theft of the Peanuts characters is unusual and he hopes someone took them for a joyride to the beach and will bring them back.
"The material value is literally peanuts but they’re certainly a very familiar and welcome sight in Oak Bay every Christmas," said Murdoch. "If the thieves have a change of heart in the spirit of Christmas and they can return them, or let us know and we’ll pick them up."
Murdoch confirmed that the Oak Bay Police are aware of the theft of the holiday decorations and are investigating.
"I would ask that anybody who spots Charlie Brown, Sally or Snoopy out and about please call us," said Murdoch. "Call the Oak Bay Police or (Oak Bay) Public Works because we would like to have them back."
If you see the missing members of the Peanuts gang, call the Oak Bay Police Department's non-emergency line at 250-592-2424.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.