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Multi-colored Christmas lights used to decorate the water tower in Aurora were stolen, residents say. The new director of the water department discovered the lights, cables, extension cords and hardware were missing while cleaning a storage facility where the lights were kept. 

Of the total 15 strands used to decorate the front of the water tower at least ten were taken, according to Aurora resident Beverly Horvatch. Horvatch is part of a committee tasked with decorating the town for the holidays. Horvatch says residents are blaming a “grinch” for “taking off” with the lights. 

Horvatch said it’s difficult to know when the lights were stolen. They were placed into storage in mid-April, but discovered missing on Thursday, Nov. 7. 

The lights were stored in a building beside the water tower. The tower and surrounding buildings are guarded by locked gates public works employees have a key to, Joy Dunn said. Dunn is the director of the Aurora Richland Township Chamber of Commerce. 

Dunn said the lights are on large, heavy spools that require two people to carry them. She said it would be much easier to transport the spools with machinery. Each strand is at least 120 ft, or the height of the water tower, she added. 

If the theft occurred during work hours, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., “it would have been noticed,” because someone would have to use equipment, Dunn said. “If it isn’t town equipment, it can’t go behind the gates.”  Dunn continued to say that when the storage building was opened last Thursday, “nothing looked out of the ordinary” and “nothing looked like it had been touched.” 

The total cost of the lights and related equipment is $10,000, but the Aurora Richland Township Chamber of Commerce shared on social media that $6,000 worth of equipment needs to be replaced. In North Carolina, theft is considered a felony when a stolen item is worth more than $1,000. 

One question difficult for residents to answer is, why. Why would someone steal Christmas lights? 

Dunn said the theft feels like a “personal attack” on all Aurora residents, because they enjoy the lights and lighting ceremony every year. 

“We are so disappointed that somebody would indeed attack us in such a way that it does feel very personal,” she said. 

“It’s so odd, because we just haven’t had those kinds of problems,” Dunn continued. “This is a big deal.” 

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has opened an investigation into the theft. 

To raise money to replace the stolen lights, a “Grinch Movie Night” fundraiser will be held on Friday, Nov. 15 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Venue on Main Street in Aurora. Entry is free, but hot dogs, chips, sodas and popcorn will be available for purchase. Monetary donations will be accepted. 

To make monetary donations, visit www.partp.org and click “Donate” on the right hand side of the homepage. 

A tree lighting ceremony is still scheduled for Friday, Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the water tower on Pearl Street. Residents began decorating the water tower in 2021.