Naughty Santas giftwrap Tempe traffic cameras
by Santa Claus (with an AK-47) Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008 at 8:49 AM

Santa impersonators wrapped-up red light and speed enforcement camer as as a holiday gift for drivers.

On, Comet! On Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! to the top of photo enforcement cameras! Now cover, cover, cover them all!

A gang of Santa impersonators recently wrapped-up red light and speed enforcement cameras in Tempe as an early holiday gift for drivers in that city.

A video of the unknown group blocking the police cameras from snapping pictures was later posted on You Tube to the tune of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by the Jackson Five. The two-and-a-half minute video shows four people dressed in red suits and white beards in broad daylight placing Christmas decorated boxes and sheets over camera lenses at two locations in Tempe.

Toward the end of the video, the group posted the message: “Ho! Ho! Ho! Death to the surveillance state! Free movement for all people!”

The video goes on to state: “Only Santa knows who is naughty and nice. Lumps of coal to all those who make it their business to watch and control. From the border wall to the freeway red-light cameras.”

The equipment was not damaged and there “doesn’t appear to be any crime,” said Katie McDevitt, a spokeswoman for the Tempe Police Department.

She said the department knew of the incident about two weeks ago and uncovered the cameras. Police have no suspects and are not pursuing an investigation.

www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/132948

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