It's the Great Pumpkin Theft, Charlie Brown

The crime that allegedly took place in Lawrence Township late Monday evening was more akin to “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” than “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”

The coating of snow that lingered on the ground from the weekend’s rare pre-Halloween storm only strengthened the comparison.

In any case, according to township police, three Rider University students allegedly tried to steal 35 pumpkins – of varying size – and one gourd from the St. Ann’s pumpkin patch at Lawrence Avenue and Lawrence Road (Route 206).

The pumpkin patch was set up on church-owned property at that corner at the beginning of October, with sales benefiting the Youth Ministry of the , located across the street.

At 10:07 p.m. Halloween night, township police received a call from a neighborhood resident reporting that someone was in the process of removing pumpkins from the St. Ann’s patch.

A car occupied by three Rider University students was just about to leave when officers arrived. Officers stopped the vehicle and inside they allegedly found 35 stolen pumpkins and one gourd, police said.

One witness at the scene Monday night told Lawrenceville Patch that, prior to the officers’ arrival on Lawrence Avenue, one of the students had difficulty shutting the trunk of the car because it was stuffed with so many pumpkins. The witness said the woman had to slam the trunk down several times before it finally closed.

Police said they ordered the students – one male and two females – to remove the 35 pumpkins and one gourd from the car. After being photographed as evidence by a police officer, the pumpkins and gourd were returned to the pumpkin patch.

The students were positively identified by officers and released Monday night. Police said criminal charges against the three are pending the completion of the investigation, which includes consulting with church officials to determine the value of the 35 pumpkins and lone gourd.