RivCo Neighborhood 'MistleToad' Shenanigans Blown 'Out Of Proportion' By Grinches This Holiday Season

TEMECULA, CA — Temecula's Crowne Hill neighborhood initiated some fun and reindeer games ahead of New Year's Eve to close out 2025, which coincided with a ring of inflatable decoration thefts in the area, according to a Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation.

The game was simple.

"Find The Crowne Hill MistelToad" was launched by Crowne Hill resident Shimaine Riviere, her version of a TikTok neighborhood game.

She donated an unused inflatable toad (wearing a Santa hat) and dared residents to find him, display him, and try to keep him through New Year's Eve.

Photos of the stolen toad were posted in their Facebook group, and residents cruised the streets to find him and get in on the shenanigans.

After weeks of gameplay, the Hogue family was crowned the 2026 King and Queen of Crowne Hill for being the last family to find and display the Crowne Hill Frog.

"This is an awesome family who I learned had possession of the frog three separate times during the contest," Riviere said. "I'd also like to welcome them ot Crowne Hill and Tradewinds as they have just moved here from Texas.

The "Find the MistleToad" game started as festive fun and is expected to become an annual tradition. The rules were posted in the Crowne Hill Facebook group, along with a picture of the frog.

For a few days, nothing happened. "Then, I woke up one morning and he was GONE!"

"I later learned that an elementary school nurse who'd suggested they play was in on the game. Then, it was on," she said.

The game picked up momentum, and the rules were made up along the way as "things arose," she said.

Taking Things Too Far:

During the MistleToad game, other inflatables began disappearing, according to posts in the Crowne Hill neighborhood Facebook group.

Soon, the local sheriff's department became involved in locating missing inflatables, other than the Crowne Hill frog. Then the local sheriff's department and Temecula Mayor/now City Council Member Brenden Kalfus got involved.

One such family reported a missing 10-foot Santa Jack Skellington inflatable and a Zero inflatable that was "destroyed and left in the street on Jolle Court." A police report was filed.

As luck would have it, the Southwest Sheriff's Station deputies assigned to the case found the missing Jack and returned him. "A deputy returned him on the night of the theft," Daniel Pickett wrote on Facebook. "To our pleasant surprise, he was in working order, despite a small slash in the back!"

Along with seeking out the Crowne Hill frog, residents were also watching for cast-off inflatables around the neighborhood.

One such resident, Ricky Pion, found a few along the road in late December.

"I picked both of them up," he said. Then he found another on Old Kent, grabbed it, and became curious. "I decided to look near Crowne Hill park, as I figured it was kids who stole them and were throwing them."

As he neared the park, he found four more inflatables thrown in the middle of the road.

"They seem to be a bit torn up, and I'm not sure if any of them still function, but if you know who the owners are, please let us know so we can get them back to them," Pion said.

He found discarded minions, Christmas trees, Grinches, and other inflatable decorations among the inflatables. His post first sparked outrage and disappointment, then launched a social sleuthing investigation.

A Facebook commenter said residents did not feel they were "blowing things out of proportion" regarding their disappointment with the nefarious activity.

One neighbor found a doorbell video of an inflatable heist and turned it over to the police. Authorities later identified at least two youths involved, according to a comment. Patch has reached out for further details.

"One driver and three kids on camera were seen jumping out of a grey minivan and grabbing my neighbors' inflatables," he wrote. "Glad they got caught."

The activity was also taking place in Sommers' Bend, according to another resident.

"I hope they have to pay for them," a final comment said.

Even with the bad, the good of the Crowne Hill Frog cannot be dissipated. The community has banded together both for the fun of the game and to return the stolen inflatables to their rightful owners.

"I hope this latest (business) with inflatables being taken wasn’t something of an idea sparked from the frog," she said. "I originally wanted it to be a fun after-dark drinking type game for the adults only… bring them a lil fun," she said. "When life is ALWAYS about the kids, can mom and dad have one lil thing? Kids are always trying to squeeze in on our action…oh well…. LONG LIVE THE FROG GAME!!"

"If you or anyone who may be missing their inflatable, please reach out to the Southwest Station," the Southwest Sheriff's Station said. Victims can call the Temecula non-emergency line at 951-696-4357.

So far, a large red dinosaur and a 6-foot Grinch are among the still missing decorations.