CARY, N.C. — Police are stepping up patrols in Cary after a neighborhood decorated for the holidays was vandalized twice in two days this week.

"You really do it for the kids. For families to come down and enjoy it. That's what it's all about," resident Steve Conner said of the decorated neighborhood.

This week, residents of Melanie Lane, in the Coronado Village subdivision, woke up to find their row of candy canes scattered and splintered.

Residents there have been decorating the neighborhood for the past five years without any trouble.

"I feel sad for someone who has the gall to come in and mess up something we've done for everyone," resident Lisa Drommer said.

Residents said the vandals apparently strike when the lights go out for the night.

"The last time it happened, it was when the lights were off, sometime between 10 p. m. and 2 a.m.," resident Bob Stelpstra said.

Residents said they are not going to let a prankster ruin their neighborhood holiday fairy tale.

"He's not going to spoil the holidays," resident Steve Drommer said. "Even if he comes back tomorrow, I'll put up more decorations. He's not going to get me down."

Cary police said they have at least four reports from residents in other neighborhoods about decorations being stolen or vandalized.