Mrs. Grinch? Woman Caught Stealing Christmas Decorations

December 17, 2013

An Escambia County woman was busted red handed Monday morningĀ  taking Christmas decorations out of front yards.

Daphne Ann Whited, age 44 of Cantonment, drove around the Tributary Street neighborhood, taking decorations from yards and placing them inside her vehicle, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

One resident, Sean Young, caught Whited on camera and posted the photos to his Facebook page.

“I asked her if she needed help putting my stuff in her car,” Young wrote on Facebook. “Then I took her picture.”

Whited was charged with multiple counts of petit larceny and possession of marijuana. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $1,000 bond. Several victims were located and their decorations returned.

Whited told deputies that an ad on Craiglist said the decorations were on a lawn free for the taking on Tributary Street.

Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

45 Responses to “Mrs. Grinch? Woman Caught Stealing Christmas Decorations”

  1. Everett on December 20th, 2013 3:42 am

    2 things

    Let her stand at the intersection of 29 and Muscogee road with a sign saying “I stole someones Christmas”

    Have her work either Loaves and Fishes or Waterfront Missions Christmas Christmas day dinner.

  2. Bama Fan on December 18th, 2013 4:34 pm

    Dang! This woman has three kids. I wonder how she will explain this to them? How pathetic she is!
    You’re a Foul one, Mrs. Grinch.
    The sad part about this, besides her tainting Christmas for the victims, is she probably has justified it in her head as OK. She must be really delusional to think people are going to believe she got this off of Craig’s list!
    I hope her bond does get revoked and she does spend Christmas in jail! She deserves to be with her kind.
    Actually to do something as low as steal Christmas decorations suggests a mental problem. Roll Tide

  3. Miss Sandy on December 18th, 2013 2:33 pm

    This lady needs us to pray for her and her family. Pray for her kids!

  4. bouttime on December 18th, 2013 10:36 am

    jimmy john has found a way to make this ms grinch story even better with his FSU dig. Looks like the one thing the lady has is great taste in schools. I hope her judge is a Gator. Well, not really, I do hope he’s Seminole.

  5. david lamb on December 17th, 2013 11:19 pm

    Clasic “BUSTED” photo. Someone buy her some grinch socks! Do feel some what sorry….Woman will NEVER live this escapade down! Forever the FSU Christmas Decoration Thief. Judge should make her stand in someones yard wrapped in Christmas lights!

  6. Bree on December 17th, 2013 10:08 pm

    Feel sorry for her 3 children!!! They deserve more than this.

  7. sharon on December 17th, 2013 6:34 pm

    if she cant afford the decorations how dose she think she can afford to pay her electric bill? by the way the picture is really PRICELESS!!

  8. wegl on December 17th, 2013 6:16 pm

    Crimonoles!!!

  9. jimmy john on December 17th, 2013 5:58 pm

    AND caught with weed??? I wonder if the defense will say the weed contributed to her lack of judgement, but then turn around and advocate the legalization of weed lol oh boy this is just WOW I AM FOREVER KNOWN AS THE FSU DECORATION BANDIT hehehe

  10. jimmy john on December 17th, 2013 5:56 pm

    well damn, hey at least the kids who go to school with her kids can save time asking if they can get em any decorations for next year, lol how dumb can anyone be thinking its ok to be caught not dead wearing a Seminole sweater hehe # MOMoftheYEAR

  11. bouttime on December 17th, 2013 5:55 pm

    Another case of let’s make excuses for this poor girl. Let’s blame it on drugs. Do the homework on this human waist. How do they continue to let her free to pray on the public. Maybe the media will expose this thief so she will get what she deserves
    Let everyone know what her face looks like so they can protect themselves.

  12. Caitlin on December 17th, 2013 5:54 pm

    This story is too great!Just the thought of this stupid person getting caught & fined is too funny!Always makes me feel better about myself.

  13. tammy on December 17th, 2013 5:21 pm

    I think she should spend Christmas in jail!! There is nothing I hate worse than a thief!! And to steal Christmas decorations is beyond terrible!!

  14. Earl in bratt on December 17th, 2013 4:53 pm

    WAR EAGLE!!!!!!!!

  15. Tfell on December 17th, 2013 3:46 pm

    I feel sorry for her! She obviously has a drug or alcohol problem. I pray that she gets the help that she needs. Christmas can not be bought ( or in this case stolen). The bible says that all things that are done in darkness will come to light! This is perfect example. I’m sorry that others had to suffer because of this individuals actions. Maybe she can find some kind of peace within herself so that she doesn’t feel the need to steal what other people have worked hard for. I also pray that the people that she stole from will find it in their hearts to forgive her, if they haven’t already.

  16. JSCS on December 17th, 2013 3:34 pm

    Deer caught in the headlights is NOT so dear!

    Her family must be Not so proud.

  17. Jason on December 17th, 2013 2:42 pm

    @ James Burcham

    Tributary Street is located in the Bellview Community. It runs south off of Bellview Ave, between Mobile Hwy and Community Drive.

  18. FSU Fan - NOT a criminal on December 17th, 2013 2:22 pm

    WTG home owner! Love what you said to her!!!! Her face is priceless! ((Classic expression of OH CRAP!!!))

    I’m very glad that people are getting their items back, it’s a shame that hard working individuals have to deal with issues like this.

    And for those commenting on the FSU shirt, before we jump to conclusions, maybe we should find out if she stole it too LOL maybe she was robbing clothes lines and laundry mats as well as front yard christmas decor!

  19. poohbear on December 17th, 2013 12:45 pm

    The FSU shirt has nothing to do with the crime she did. Some people just can’t stand it that Mr. Winston chose Florida State over Alabama.

  20. Mark on December 17th, 2013 12:36 pm

    She’s lucky the home owner didn’t greet her with a firearm!

  21. Jessica on December 17th, 2013 12:01 pm

    I have had things stolen from my yard, how can I find out if there are items that have not been claimed?

  22. Andy on December 17th, 2013 11:48 am

    She stole Christmas?

  23. Pam on December 17th, 2013 11:22 am

    That’s just low. She deserves Christmas dinner in jail.

  24. Santa on December 17th, 2013 10:32 am

    Somebody bring this lady a gift-wrapped brochure to a drug treatment program at the jail. Happy Saturnalia.

  25. brim buster on December 17th, 2013 10:11 am

    She may be spending Christmas in jail after Judge Rimmer revokes the bond on charges pending from last week in Santa Rosa…

  26. Louise on December 17th, 2013 8:38 am

    She should have to spend Christmas in the pokey! There’s not a whole lot lower than doing something like this. Glad folks got their decorations back but I’m sure it put a taint on their Christmas spirit….I hope not. She is lower than the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. She literally tried to steal it. SHAME ON HER! Good going Mr. Young.

  27. mike on December 17th, 2013 8:26 am

    Guess whos getting coal in her stocking!!! Baaaa haaaa haaaa.

  28. James Burcham on December 17th, 2013 8:11 am

    Wonder if she is the one that stole my 3 year olds Elmo decoration from our front yard on Thursday night ? Where is tributary street?

  29. Janet on December 17th, 2013 7:26 am

    Some People don’t care anymore.

  30. river ron on December 17th, 2013 7:13 am

    She was hired by Winston accusers atty to make FSU look bad.

  31. tg on December 17th, 2013 7:05 am

    Its tough when you are competing with your neighbor to have the most decorated yard.

  32. Matt on December 17th, 2013 6:36 am

    Should have kept her locked up until after Christmas.

  33. Wow!! on December 17th, 2013 6:11 am

    Man dis is jus wrong…..she goin ruin christmas for kids….

  34. mnon on December 17th, 2013 6:05 am

    You’re a mean one Mrs. Grinch.

  35. Jennifer west on December 17th, 2013 5:59 am

    That’s a shame….sad

  36. Tax Payer on December 17th, 2013 5:51 am

    Why was she released? Keep her locked up for a few days and let her think about how those she stole from feel. I think she’s lucky he didn’t have more in his hand than a camera!

  37. Robert S. on December 17th, 2013 5:46 am

    Mr. Young, congratulations on catching this “Grinchette” red-handed.
    First photo is great.
    Looks like several homes had their Christmas decorations donated to her cause.
    Ya gotta wonder, what was the plan for purloined Christmas decorations?
    This person should look for a stocking of coal.

  38. rob on December 17th, 2013 5:34 am

    Classic. “Do you need help putting my stuff in your car?”

    Love it.

    Great that she got caught. There is no excuse for that.

  39. Cantonment Neighbor on December 17th, 2013 5:21 am

    Wow. I am glad she was caught and folks were given their property back.

  40. Susan on December 17th, 2013 5:21 am

    Can you say SURPRISE, You are so busted!!!!!! Like to hear her plea of guilty or not guilty to the courts on this one. So caught with hand in cookie jar…..the nerve of some people….Busted pics are priceless. Way to go home owner.

  41. Oops on December 17th, 2013 5:04 am

    By the shirt i would say another CrimaNolebusted.

  42. Mark Chesnutt on December 17th, 2013 5:04 am

    And she is wearing a criminoles sweatshirt. Awesome.

  43. dad on December 17th, 2013 4:43 am

    Way to go Sean Young. Not much I hate worse than a thief.

  44. brim buster on December 17th, 2013 4:25 am

    Disguised in FSU shirt..

  45. Mike Holland on December 17th, 2013 3:04 am

    What do you expect from someone wearing a FSU sweatshirt … free shoes, free sex and now free ornaments university …. hahaha