Thieves steal Halloween decorations in North Valley neighborhood

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.– Halloween season is getting started early, and many people are already breaking out the decorations.

“I really love handing out candy,” said Christina Muñoz. “And I love to see all the costumes and everyone just being a kid. The whole dress-up aspect of it. It’s just really fun.” 

She says her favorite part is dressing up her house.

“We actually get people that come just to see the house for Halloween,” Muñoz said. “I usually start mid-September, just because it takes me a good week and a half to do all of the setup.” 

After skipping last Halloween for family reasons, Muñoz was preparing her biggest and brightest display ever, with nine different inflatables plugged in and ready to go.

“The mailman rang the doorbell, and he let me know that there was a planter broken. So there was a punter right over here. I came out to clean it, and when I looked at the yard, I noticed that half of the yard was empty,” said Muñoz.  

Three of her beloved inflatables — gone without a trace.

“They got the Jack Skellington, the Zero with the doghouse, and also the Lock, Stock and Barrel in a tub, and that was a brand new one,” Muñoz said.  

It was a true nightmare before Halloween.

“I was so heartbroken. I just started pulling everything up. I took everything inside,” Muñoz said. “This is the baby’s first Halloween, and we had a whole photoshoot setup that we were going to take photos in front of those. He already has his outfit, as you can see. So I was really more sad than anything.” 

But she’s not letting those thieves steal her Halloween spirit.

“I’m not going to let it stop me. I’m definitely gonna decorate again, I ordered some things to help secure things better,” said Muñoz. “Like I said, our house is known for decorations year-round, and I don’t want to let them take that from me.” 

Muñoz says she already bought a new inflatable, and she’ll definitely make sure that one is tied down.

Muñoz has a ring camera on her front door, but she says it was so dark that night it never caught the motion and started recording. She told KOB 4 she’s installing a floodlight to make sure that doesn’t happen again.