Missouri police save Halloween by squashing pumpkin theft ring

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. (AP) - Police in Missouri are being credited with saving Halloween, at least for one neighborhood.

According to the Maryland Heights Police Officers Association, authorities caught three teenagers orange-handed with 48 stolen pumpkins - and one gourd.

Residents in Maryland Heights, a suburb of St. Louis, have been asked to view a "pumpkin lineup" online to see if their Halloween squash are among those recovered.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported pumpkins began vanishing last week from subdivisions in the area. Police quickly tracked down the boys and their pumpkin-crammed SUV that was "top-to-bottom orange."

The next day, officers snapped a picture of the abducted decor and posted it to Facebook . Will says police have been "inundated" with people coming to track down their Halloween pumpkins. About a dozen remained unclaimed Tuesday. None are carved.

Two 18-year-olds are charged with misdemeanor stealing, while a 16-year-old has been referred to juvenile court.

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