Christmas morning theft of vehicle and presents leads to charges

Two people are charged after they allegedly stole a car Tuesday morning that was filled with Christmas presents, according to Hamilton police.

Duane Short, 38, was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, a fifth-degree felony, and a bench warrant and Valencia Boyd, 32, of Hamilton, was charged with receiving stolen property and obstructing official business, police said.

Short remains in Butler County Jail with bond set at $10,041, according to court records. Boyd no longer is in jail.

A Hamilton woman who works for Hospice of Southwest Ohio told police she was warming up her car in front of her home in the 1100 block of Western Avenue when it was stolen Christmas morning. The car, covered with Hospice of Southwest Ohio decals, was spotted around 2 p.m. by a neighbor. The neighbor followed the car to the U.S. Market, 100 Pershing Ave.

A caller told police the driver and a passenger fled from the vehicle.

Short and Boyd were apprehended by Hamilton police, according to a report.

Boyd told police she fled because she didn’t want to be “involved in the incident.”

Pam Temple, human resource manager for Hospice of Southwest Ohio, said employees were “saddened” by the theft of the Christmas presents that were not been recovered or were destroyed. She said hospice employees are permitted to drive company vehicles home.

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Rick McCrabb