Ohio family ends annual Christmas display due to vandals

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (AP) - A central Ohio family has decided to put an end to a long neighborhood tradition after vandals destroyed an elaborate front-yard Christmas light display.

The Hall family has been putting up the display for about three decades, and this year's version featured 30,000 lights. Hundreds of people drove into their Chillicothe-area cul-de-sac to see the show every year.

But vandals hit overnight Saturday, tearing up parts of the display and stealing others.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the Halls spent Sunday afternoon taking down what was left of it and have decided to put an end to the tradition.

Mike Hall said he has invested more than $7,000 into Christmas decorations and starts preparing it every October. He said the family considers it a Christmas card to the community.