Palm Springs “RoboChristmas” home robbed and vandalized

Kenny Irwin Jr. has been putting upmillions of Christmas lightson his Palm Springs home for the last twenty years. The lights in addition tothe artist’s statues made from recycled waste have been a holiday staple in Palm Springs. However, recently someone tried to pull the plug on his good cheer.

“It looks like the lights had been removed from the property,” said Irwin Jr. “I don’t know what’s happened to them, I have absolutely no idea what’s happened to them, it’s been a bit upsetting.”
Irwin Jr. returned from a vacation to find more than a million lights were stolen from his backyard. The lights had been collected over the last 20 years.

“You know, some people, I guess don’t have anything better to do with their time,” said Irwin Jr. “I’d rather not think about those things and get on with it. It’s terrible but what can I say.”
Things got worse for Irwin Jr. three days later. Somebody broke into the property and destroyed one of his Santa sculptures.

“Imagine yourself with something, your child or your family does, and somebody damages it in any way. It’s painful,” said his father Kenny Irwin Sr.

The recent theft and vandalism aren’t the first time they’ve dealt with issues. The annual Christmas light show was put on hold in 2008 after neighbors complained to the city. However, he is set on bringing it back in 2012.

“I’m going to get around those obstacles and I’m going to accomplish my goal which is to produce a magnificent light and art show for the whole community and everybody who’s enjoyed it for the last couple of decades,” said Irwin Jr.

If you’d like to donate Christmas to lights to the Irwins, you can call760-323-2828.