The Grinch came early this year.

Or that’s how it seems to residents of Diamond Point Road, who saw a number of their hand-made decorations disappear only a few days after they were placed during Thanksgiving week.

Putting up holiday decorations along the four-mile stretch of roadway between east of Sequim and Blyn has become a tradition for the neighborhood “elves” over the past 13 years or so, noted resident Marty Hoffman.

“In the 13 years we have been doing this, we have had a few snow flakes, a few bells and some candy canes stolen,” he said.

But this year’s theft was different. Six volunteers spent about three hours creating 22 over-sized “lollipops,” each about 3-4 feet tall, and placed them in three sets near the roadway on or around Nov. 23.

Two days later, neighbors noticed all but five were missing.

The materials to create them cost about $90, Hoffman said.

“The idea someone would take them is annoying,” he said. “It’s not a big crime … [but] it’s kind of a slap in the face.”

Neighbors suggest if they are found to call local law enforcement.