An ‘extremely grumpy and rude’ police officer has been accused of being the Grinch who stole Christmas after she shut down an elaborate suburban lights display.
For more than four years, all ten houses at a cul de sac in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs have lit up their homes to hundreds of happy Christmas light enthusiasts.
But the pretty displays came to a dramatic end on Wednesday evening when a foul-tempered policewoman stormed the street after 10.30pm.
‘I woke up to someone bashing on my window next to my front door,’ said father-of-three Hugo Court resident Mark Morrison.
One of the many spectacular displays at Hugo Court, Narre Warren, which was brought to an end by a traffic-conscious police officer on Wednesday evening
Silent night! These lights were among those to be turned off at the request of the police officer this week
Taking the Mickey! Fans pose with a blow-up Disney character at the cul-de-sac this year
‘I thought it was going to smash they were bashing that hard on it – all the lights were on outside and there were still people wandering around …
‘I got up got some clothes on and there was a lady police officer there.
‘She said: “you need to shut your lights off … you’re causing traffic chaos down the road””.
When he said ‘that’s not my issue’, the policewoman told him ‘you need to shut them off now’ and asked if he had a permit from the local council.
‘She went from house to house to house and made everybody turn their lights off,’ Mr Morrison recalled.
‘She was really grumpy and rude and not nice at all.’
The decision to shut down the lights is believed to have come after a fiery altercation over a car parked on a footpath on a nearby street.
A Christmas tree constructed entirely out of VB cans (left and right) is featured in this year’s display
The decision to shut down the lights is believed to have come after a fiery altercation over a car parked on a footpath on a nearby street
A local resident, Malcolm, is pictured hard at work putting up his Christmas lights this year
Sometimes hundreds of people swarm the cul de sac – and many have taken to Facebook furious about the blackout.
‘It doesn’t matter whether the visitors are 5 or 95, everyone comes in, forgets all their problems with a big smile and has fun.
Neighbours said people often said: ‘We come to your house every year. You give our kids joy and everyone’s happy.’
Several people have branded the police grinches for the light blackout, but it’s understood Victoria Police believe it was an important public safety measure.
A spokeswoman confirmed police attended the street about 10.50pm due to ‘ongoing traffic issues’.
‘Residents were asked to turn off the Christmas light displays to assist in clearing the gridlock caused by the amount of vehicles at the location due to safety concerns.’