<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575577781987.png">Photo courtesy Independence PD INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — A Grinch has stolen a large Santa Claus from the porch of a historic mansion in the Kansas City area. Police in Independence say the jolly old elf was snatched Tuesday or Wednesday from the Vaile Mansion. Built in 1881, the three-story Gothic-like structure is open to the public as a museum.Police say the Santa belongs to a Parks and Recreation employee and has “much sentimental value.'' In effort to track down leads, police&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ipdinfo/posts/2842174002482091" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 125, 165);">posted&nbsp;</a>pictures showing the missing Santa posed next to a giant reindeer and beside a fireplace. Several dozen people responded to the post with outrage. One poster predicted that the thief would be ‘’on Santa's naughty list this year.''

Large Santa stolen from historic Missouri mansion