CHICAGO (CBS) — A man was accused of stealing $45,000 worth of Christmas reindeer decorations from the Joliet Slammers ballpark earlier this month.
Police said 52-year-old Victor Sessoms has been charged with theft after he was identified as the man who stole three 16-foot-tall lighted Christmas reindeer decorations from the loading dock at Duly Health & Care Field on Nov. 11. and November 12.
GLOW Holiday Festival
The ballpark is the home field of the Joliet Slammers and an independent professional baseball team. The decorations were part of the stadium’s GLOW Holiday Festival, featuring more than a million Christmas lights, which kicks off Wednesday and runs through Jan. 5.
Police said Sessoms “reported” his involvement in the theft, and investigation revealed he had the awards torn down for money.
Joliet Police
An arrest warrant was issued for Sessoms on Friday. He was arrested Monday afternoon and was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
Joliet Slammers co-owner Night Train Veeck – whose grandfather, Bill, once owned the Chicago White Sox – had offered to make a donation to charity as a reward for information about the theft of the custom-made 17-foot lighted reindeer decorations.
“Thanks to our holiday hero, a Joliet Police Department detective, the Grinch’s attempt to steal joy and cheer has led to more generosity. As promised, the Slammers and GLOW Holiday Festival will donate a cash reward to the detective’s favorite charity .Even the Grinch couldn’t surpass the spirit of giving in Joliet!” Veeck said in a statement.
Veeck said the Slammers had more reindeer decorations in the bullpen, so to speak, to replace those that were stolen before the festival started Wednesday night.
