The Grinch must have visited Columbia Falls over the last couple of days, because Christmas ornaments were stolen from a Rapids Avenue yard as well as an Eddy Court residence and a 13th Street West home, according to Columbia Falls Police. Two snowmen were also taken from a Second Avenue East residence. The thief unscrewed the front porch light bulb at Eddy Court so as not to be seen. 

Two patio chairs were stolen off of a front porch on Crescent Drive sometime Thursday night.

A Bigfork man called the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office on Friday evening saying that he believed he was going to be raided by the SWAT team. He said that since the fax machine was busy at the sheriff’s office, he believed they were “up to something.” The man called back later when he thought the SWAT team was actually in the area. It wasn’t. 

A car struck a deer on Boorman Lane in Kalispell on Friday morning. 

A Columbia Falls woman reported that jewelry had been stolen from her home. 

A Kalispell woman on Rose Crossing reported that her neighbor’s dog “craps” on her walkway and it’s been an ongoing problem for the last eight years. 

The Crimestoppers Crime of the Week is a string of thefts from vehicles all over the Flathead Valley. According to liaison Joy Ortiz, these crimes happen at all times of the day and night and suspects will take anything they can find inside your vehicle. Many times, vehicles are left unlocked. 

Law enforcement recommends that any time you leave your vehicle, lock it. If you must leave items in your car, put them out of sight or lock them in your trunk. 

Tips to Crimestoppers are anonymous and you may receive a cash reward. If you have any information regarding this string of thefts, call Crimestoppers at (406) 752-TIPS (752-8477). 

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest on an out-of-county warrant Friday after responding to a noise disturbance call on Seventh Street East. 

A woman called Kalispell Police after losing her wallet at a West Idaho Street business. It was later returned to her — minus the cash that was inside. 

A Hutton Ranch Road business had surveillance video of a couple of people stealing a fly fishing rod that was later found at a pawn shop.

A man called to report drug use on Sixth Avenue West and prostitution on 11th Avenue West. He was upset because no one has been arrested at either location. 

A man called to inform police that people have been mistakenly identifying him as a wanted man, and he wanted to let them know that it wasn’t him. 

A man called his car in as stolen only to realize he had just forgotten where he’d parked it.