14 of the Most Disturbing Christmas Crimes in U.S. History

It's the most wonderful time of the year ... right? Unfortunately, if we look at crime records, it also happens to be an equally disturbing time of year for some. While Christmas might seem like the most unlikely season for crimes, it's an unfortunate truth that there are plenty on record. And they are downright baffling. Here are some of the most disturbing Christmas crimes in the United States.

Please note: The below photographs are not associated with the actual crimes unless otherwise stated.

1. The case of the so-called stolen chocolate (Georgia)

A man dressed as St. Nick at the Atlanta Mall lost his patience in the worst way in 2004. His temper got the best of him and he allegedly began to hit an elderly 74-year-old woman with a two-by-four, convinced she had stolen more than $100 worth of Hershey’s chocolate from him. The woman died from injuries in the hospital, and Clarke was sentenced to life in prison for committing one of the most disturbing Christmas crimes in Georgia.

2. The case of Santa on a motorcycle (South Carolina)

It was 2006 in Columbia, South Carolina, when a man, dressed in a full Santa costume and riding a decked-out motorcycle, pulled up to a gas station and asked a family if they wanted to see the stuffed reindeer he had in the sidecar. The children walked up to take a closer look when the man suddenly grabbed the eight-year-old girl and sped off. Panicked, the father furiously chased after them and was able to retrieve his daughter. The Santa imposter was arrested.

3. The case of taking candy from Santa (Ohio)

Everyone knows not to take candy from strangers, but what about taking candy canes from Santa Claus? It was 2009 in Parma, Ohio, when a 12-year-old girl was flagged down by Santa, hiding in the bushes, offering her Christmas candy. The girl was wise enough to ignore this attempt, and when the man in the Santa costume began chasing her, she made it to a local store just in time to call the police. The man was identified as mentally unstable and was later caught still wearing his suit.

4. The case of a Santa Claus burglary (Alabama)

A visit from Santa is usually a joyous occasion, especially when he’s collecting for charity. A 22-year-old woman living in Birmingham thought this was the exact scenario when a man dressed as Santa knocked on her door. Unfortunately, his intentions were much darker. He hit her in the face before attempting to rob her house. He fled the premises shortly after.

5. The case of the most infamous Christmas bank robbery (Texas)

This crime is almost 100 years old, but it’s still quite baffling. In fact, it’s considered to be one of the most notorious robberies in history. A man by the name of Marshall Ratliff walked into Cisco’s First National Bank in a full Santa costume. Accompanied by three armed men, he was able to escape with the money, taking three girls hostage. His car ran out of gas shortly after and he had to abandon his loot. He was arrested and sentenced to 99 years in prison, but an angry mob invaded the prison and lynched him.

6. The case of the disorderly Mall Santa (New Hampshire)

It was 2005 when a 52-year-old man appeared at Rockingham Park Mall in a full Santa costume. For some reason or another, he decided it would be a good idea to drop his pants in front of everyone, a truly disturbing Christmas crime. Fortunately, he was wearing sweatpants underneath his costume. Nevertheless, he was arrested for disorderly conduct.

7. The case of the Italian Hall disaster (Michigan)

The 1913 Italian Hall disaster might have happened over a century ago, but it’s a tale that continues to cause despair. It was Christmas Eve in Calumet, Michigan, when a group of striking mine workers and their families were gathered for the holiday. An unidentified person falsely yelled out, "Fire!" and the result was disastrous. During the evacuation of the building, a stampede ensued, killing 73 people.

8. The case of the most unusual Christmas gift (Louisiana)

Parents can sometimes be at a loss when it comes to finding the perfect gift for their children. A man in Sidell thought he had the perfect solution. Police reports state that he robbed a pet store, taking the cash register and a couple of snakes. When he was asked by police why he committed the crime, he said it was for his son’s Christmas present.

9. The case of the stolen baby Jesus (Florida)

A stolen baby Jesus from a nativity scene: it’s an all-too-common and disturbing Christmas crime. One case, which happened in Florida in 2007, was particularly unusual. When an 18-year-old woman from Florida stole the ceramic figure, she assumed her crime would go unpunished. Little did she know that the figure was actually rigged with GPS, and the cops quickly found out about her shenanigans. It's hard to tell what's more disturbing - the crime of stealing the baby or the assumption that the figure would need a GPS monitor in the first place.

10. The case of the intoxicated St. Nick (South Carolina)*

Volunteering to drive a Christmas float for a local holiday parade is a generous act. That is, until alcohol is factored into the mix. A man from South Carolina was drinking while driving a float only meant to go a few miles per hour. Speeding at nearly 60 mph, he was charged with intoxicated driving, an open container, and a few more charges for his horrifying behavior.

11. The case of the crazed shoppers (New York)

Black Friday holiday deals can be motivation for braving the crowds and waiting in ridiculously long lines. But sometimes, things can get a little out of hand. Nowhere was that truer than the Green Acres Mall in 2008, when hundreds were waiting for the doors to open with the promise of holiday savings. This crowd quickly turned into a mob, busting through the glass doors and trampling over an employee. And the most disturbing part? When it was announced that the employee had been killed, many shoppers continued shopping, complaining that they had been waiting in line all night. Truly one of the most disturbing Christmas crimes in New York.

12. The case of the stolen Christmas trees (Oregon)

When the economy tanked in 2008, many families had to get creative with making do with a little less over the holidays. Others turned borderline criminal. In Oregon, for example, policemen in Portland caught a man dragging his stolen Christmas tree down the street at 3 a.m.

13. The case of the terrorized Frosty float (Ohio)

The fact that the victim of a brutal Christmas stabbing happened to be a giant Frosty float somehow doesn’t make it less of a disturbing Christmas crime. The perpetrators were two teenagers in the Colerain Township area. They violently attacked with a knife the 12-foot figure in a resident’s yard. Fortunately, the two were caught on videotape, having committed this crime repeatedly, and were arrested and fined.

14. The case of the Santa break-in (Washington)

If you're dressed as Santa Claus and plan on committing a robbery, it only makes sense to come in through the chimney, right? A Seattle man used this less-than-fool-proof logic as he attempted to rob a house. Before any real crime was committed, he actually got stuck in the chimney and had to be helped out by the fire department. The confused criminal claimed he was trying to retrieve his backpack, but the story didn't fly with the police. They sentenced him to 17 months in prison.

One can only hope these Christmas crimes remain as baffling as they are, rather than becoming the norm. If you're a true crime buff like me, you've probably also heard your share of bizarre Christmas crimes. Share the ones you remember best by filling out this nomination form. For something a little more cheerful, check out the best Christmas lights drive-thrus in the nation. If you've still got Christmas shopping to do or if you're looking to treat yourself this holiday season, refer to the OIYS gift-giving guide.