>> announcer: this is 7 news at 4:30. >> anchor: right few at 4:30 a holiday heist in

christmas. good afternoon, police say a couple walked in the offices for the sex offender registry board and stole $1,000 worth of toys. >> police are asking the public to track them down. john cuoco is live with more on this story, john. >> reporter: after all that happened the employees took action, not letting this ruin christmas. >> you can go to dollar store and you don't have to steal. >> reporter: a christmas crime in salem. stealing toys meant for children. according to the report from police last week a man and a woman walked in the sex offender registry board's office on congress street. claiming to be there to pick up toys. they were never asked for i.d.'s or to sign n. they were buzzed in and shown where all the toys were. the two gathered up all the would be gifts about $1,000 would be, all collected during a toy drive and walked right out the front

>> if you can't afford presents say i can't afford the presents and get them a lottery ticket or something. >> reporter: the case was reported to salem prison monday. they're investigating. according to the building security's company there is no surveillance video near the office but in true holiday spirit the employees rallied and redonated what was stolen and gave far above and beyond that which had been originally donate. the chairman said we believe it was vitally important to make a meaningful impact to those in need despite the challenge and obstacles brought by the thoughtlessness of others i. salem police are investigating the possibility that might be some sort of mixup. the gifts are missing. live in salem john cuoco, 7 news. >> anchor: an attack in boston leading it a search for suspect. the man was attacks early this morning. he was slashed in the throat and taken to the hospital

police are searching for two men. >> anchor: a dangerous crash in derry, new hampshire, when a truck crashes into a house. you can see the damage in these pictures. the derry fire department said the truck hit the fence before crashing into the house. attached to a deck there. a woman who was' driving has been charged with drunk driving. u.s. marshals are searching for a man from vermont who they say continued to rob banks while on the run. matthew martin is wanted on arrest warrants for bank robberies in new hampshire and vermont. police say martin showed a gun during the robberies. he is considered armed and dangerous. >> anchor: a close call for a family in dracut when a car slammed into their house in dracut. nick emmons has the latest on this dangerous drive. >> i was in my bed. my son was upstairs, we heard a smash. i came, ran on the podge and seen the car there. >> reporter: a close call

a car barrels into their home just feet off a busy feet. >> i know they took, i think 3 or 4 people away in an ambulance. >> reporter: it's not the first time they've had a close call. >> there has been so many accidents on this street. they need to add a four-way stop sign. we've had a car come within inches of the house. >> reporter: an inspector checked out the damage and the family will be able to stay. the front porch got the worst of it but could make it difficult for families visiting. >> i have a brother who is handicapped. we're going to have a hard time getting him in. >> reporter: nick emmons. >> her mother tells us they were' at this christmas tree shop when a stranger expositioned himself to the little girl. susan train spoke with the girl's mother. >> reporter: holiday shopping at the christmas tree shops turned into a horrifying experience for a young girl and her mom. >> he lifted up his shirt

>> reporter: tracy was shopping with her daughter when a man in his mid 40s followed her daughter around the store and exposed himself. not once but thee times. >> she got nervous and she stepped over and he went on to the other side and had done it again. >> reporter: the store was crowded with shoppers, she was' within feet of her daughter during the entire time. but didn't see what was happening. it wasn't until after they left that her daughter say something. >> western' sitting there and i felt sick to my stomach. i was, i think in shock. i couldn't believe this happened. >> reporter: tracy says bliss are reviewing video and she is confident they will be able to find this guy. but she wants to make sure other parents know 'tis the season to be on high alert. >> hopefully, more parents especially this time of year would be more aware of what was going on. and just more cautious of being careful with their kids. >> reporter: mom says she is proud of her daughter for coming forward and providing information.

you are urged to call police. in smewsbury, susan tran, 7 news. >> anchor: also on 7 high tension in rhode island. a robbery suspect up on a roof for hours wednesday. families in the neighborhood watched, worried for their safety but when police couldn't convince him to come down the weather did. kim khazei has the story. i saw him on the back of the house. and i saw the police up there. i was praying for them to make sure they were okay. >> reporter: neighbors crowded watching thomas morrison sit on his roof in providence, rhode island. >> he was wanted for first-degree robbery. police went to the house. he fled from the police and ended up on the roof. >> reporter: police say morrison wouldn't come down for more than two hours. he has had emotional troubles. people watching it all were nervous. >> this is like, you know, unusual but they got a lot of calls for different

serious issue. hopefully the kid decides to come down. >> reporter: a team of police negotiators spoke to morrison until he came down from the roof without the sweater he had been wearing, kim khazei, 7 news. >> anchor: after spending two hours on the roof he was shaken and he was shivering from the cold but wasn't injured. he was taken to the hospital for treatment. >> anchor: we're following more news. one family's disney land dreams denied. the parents and their nine children planned to visit disney land but visas were denied. the family believes it's because they are muslim. the father i is as his kids were -- says his kids were devastated. >> they had tears in their eyes, they were planning this for months. they had a countdown on their phone for the last month. >> anchor: they spend there are a 16,000 on the tickets, airlines says the

refund. investigators say is there much more to the story and it has nothing to do with their religion. >> a three-year-old girl in england save her pregnant mother's life. this is emma bassett receiving an award for her bravery of the she called the police when her pregnant mother fell and was knocked unconscious. she stayed on the phone until paramedics arrived. >> i was surprised how young she was. there were older children that would have struggled and been a lot more panicked. >> anchor: her mother and her new baby brother were by her side when she received her certificate for bravery. >> anchor: some police officers doing more than fighting crime. what the they did to help spread holiday cheer. >> anchor: the elf on the shelf who is getting into a little mischief at a local police station. >> a rising star in the republican party under fire after a hotel holiday party gets under of hand.

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>> some police officers in california getting in the spirit of the season. they weren't fighting crime this week, they were' spreading holiday cheer. >> anchor: steph handing out fines for traffic violationings they were' giving people cold hard cash, nancy chen has the story. >> yes. >> really. >> damage, you are lying. >> reporter: they wear vests and drive black and white s.u.v.'s. >> identified some families. >> reporter: they don't have the red hat or white beard. >> we're contacting you. >> reporter: our these deputies were santa. >> the money we'd like to give you as a gift. >> really? >> wow. very nice of the donor, that is amazing. >> reporter: part of an anonymous donation of $5,000 deputies pinpointed several homes. >> world' life to give you $100. >> hopefully this helps make your holidays. >> they will.

wanted to help. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> you are welcome. >> you are welcome. >> reporter: spreading a little more cheer on the road. >> stopping drivers for minor violations. >> this is a random act of kindness for the holiday season. >> for you. >> yes. >> i'm serious. [laughter] >> reporter: many thinking the worst. >> i thought we were going to get a ticket. >> reporter: but getting a nice surprise. >> deputies martinez volunteered her time to pass out the money saying it was rewarding for her as well. the sheriff says it's an opportunity to let people see them in a different light. just in time for the holidays. >> if it's somebody who is having a little difficulty i guess we'll see, maybe we'll be able to cheer them up a little bit. >> reporter: the sheriff says officials hope to continue and maybe even expand the program next year.

>> anchor: love the outcome of that but if you see the lights behind you in the rear view mirror get your hearts thumping a little bit. warm temperatures for us today. mild tomorrow, but winter does arrive next week. the forecast coming up next. >> if you don't have your gifts hate to be the bearer of bad news but you are running out of time. >> the pats look ahead to the post-season. we'll be right back.

>> anchor: all right. here is a good sight for the day. surfing santa, he is at it again. john fulton has been surfing as santa every year on this day since 1985 down the icy waters of the niagara river. it's all to raise awareness for homelessness.

wind surfer or a standup paddle board. it looks like the santa outfit. >> on the other side of country a group of santas also taking to the water. they paddle boarded across lake washington to seattle. the event raises money for families battling cancer. the santas want to bring cheer to those people stuck in traffic on the bridge above them. >> anchor: that traffic is a nightmare. i know. while i was coming in work today i saw a santa cruising on a motorcycle. he was enjoying the nice weather. has to get there somehow. >> anchor: yes, absolutely. >> reporter: couple of santas new hampshire jogging in shorts or -- santos jogging out in shorts. does it feel like easter or the 4th of july? slight breeze out of the west-southwest. we've been setting records today. started with the record warm low at 48. we tied a high winter dew

it was muggy and we're still on tap for the warmest december as well as the shattering the latest first snow for worcester. we may only have to wait another week for the latest first snow. probably not going to set the record for boston. a lot of records set today. 69 still in boston. bed ford as well. made it up to 70 for norwood and beverly. holding on to mild temperatures and holding on to the stickiness this. is not quite like christmas is. we know that? only three times since record keeping began has boston reported a high temperature over 60 degrees on christmas. it was 59 last year but temperatures dropped from there. 1964 the most recent time we were at 60. incredible. today just as bizarre as you may have been commenting to your neighbor. wind direction out of the southwest pumping in the mild air. a bit of a breeze with us. partly cloudy skies. that will be the case through the night.

99% full moon and the dew points a touch sticky for us. i can't believe that we're breaking out the frizz factor this far into december but maybe a little curly and wavy for the christmas eve party you have. mild temperatures 46-56. that full moon i was talking about, we haven't had a full moon for christmas since 1977. it we want happen until again until 2034. something cool to light the way for santa tonight. tomorrow, partly sunny. mild temperatures again but not warm like today. 56-62. so topping out in the upper 50s for moss, some areas into the 60s like plymouth and norwood but we also get a touch of sunshine for the day as well. temperatures staying mild through the night. then those temperatures drop to kick off the weekend. rise again for sunday and then plummet off the deep end into monday and tuesday. it looks like winter is finally here. getting into next week. the work week.

warmth you have to wait a couple few days. sunday looks to be our next best chance of getting any rain, but once again for us it is rain, not snow on sunday because the mild air is with us. i just showed you the high 62 looks to be rain early in the day and maybe some light showers into the afternoon. we're waiting on the first snow. again as mentioned that. for this time last year we had seen a little bit of snow. 3 inches for boston. almost 9 inches for worcester. we're waiting but it doesn't look like we'll have to wait a whole lot longer, that is a snow flake on tuesday but it starts out at least with the temperatures as snow turning to maybe sleet or even some freezing rain. we'll keep an eye on that one tuesday. big day to watch. >> anchor: thank you. 62-36 on. there enjoy it now. let's get an update on the roads. >> we're southbound on the

fortress building. hopefully the tow trucks will be leaving here in a moment or so. we're in the right travel lane down around mass avenue backed up into the o'neil tunnel trying to get by. that is southbound on route 93. after that it is not moving too badly. a look at 495 easing out as well. earlier problems on that section of roadway have been taken care of and everything has been reopened. movingifiesly. there mass pike westbound in great shape out by exit 17 heading out to 128 without a problem. downtown too, 93 northbound and southbound on the zach jim, no major problems there. pretty lights there on the zakim as well. drive safely. merry christmas, joe stapleton, 7 news. >> no elf on the shelf but is there elf of the force and we're not talking about "star wars" this time. one elf is doing his duty to protect and serve by joining the police force. >> he is helping to spread holiday cheer, take a look.

eyes and ears of santa claus watching to see who is naughty or nice. >> he goes back to the north pole every night. >> reporter: this elf is taking on a little more that season. sarg is the newest officer sworn into the west township police department. the stuffed officer is taking his oath seriously conducting official police investigations. >> he is capturing photos of the itemized pieces of evidence. >> he made use of the leg shackles for that. >> reporter: and getting into a little trouble. >> i'm able to capture him when i come in each day at work. >> reporter: sargent made hour to document his every move on the department's facebook page. >> it has been an overwhelming response. it's made it enjoyable. i've gotten a lot of good comments on social media. >> reporter: one of his followers writing a letter. >> show said what a difference it makes.

we're sure it's reaching our great town of hanover. it's special that one person or elf can make such a big difference in life. >> reporter: his fellow officers say he is doing a great job connecting with the community showing a different side of law enforcement. >> goal through things like the use of sarg, our scout elf, is to get followers that won't otherwise follow a police facebook page. >> reporter: ultimately helping solve crime. >> when we need the community's help in a situation, we already have the base of followers built up. >> reporter: the sargent says after christmas the elf will head back to the northerly pole but he will surely have a spot on the force next year. >> anchor: we're following breaking news out of shirley where the state prison is on lockdown. police investigating whether shots were fired outside of the facility and now there are no reports of any injuries. investigators at m.c.i.shirley are still investigating these reports.

laterrest as soon as we get

>> anchor: the kardashians topping the buzz wishing everyone a merry christmas. >> the family kept it a little bit more simple for 2015 christmas card featuring four of the youngest members. grandchildren bringing cuteness into the holiday season. north on the left followed

paynes, kanye and kim's new born was born earlier this month. >> james cameron announcing that his crew is ready to start the "avatar" sequel. three sequels of the hit have been aups nod. "avatar" is the highest grossing film ever made. >> j.j.abe rams said he regrets not directing it. abe rams abrams will be a producer on the next two movies. episode 8 is scheduled to hit theaters in 2018. >> >> >> anchor: breaking news -- >> shots fired inside a crowded mall in charlotte. at least one person dead. >> anchor: on just one station an accused crook

family. at least ten dead after wild weather slams three states in the south. cruise searching for missing people. >> reporter: not your christmas typical christmas eve weather. a beach forecast was appropriate for today, but these temperatures will soon be gone and a preview of winter is on the way. >> anchor: patriots gear up for a sunday showdown with the jets, but will the pats be without some key players? >> partying too hard? why a rising star in the republican party is facing back lash for a celebration. >> anchor: shoppers scatter as shots ring out in charlotte, north carolina. police say an armed suspect was shot and killed by appear offduty police officers. >> witnesses shaken by the chaos inside the mall. susan tran is live with more. >> reporter: the latest from police, an offduty police officer shot and killed the gunman. police say it was just after 2:00 during this very busy

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