The quiet Yucaipa neighborhood became the scene of a disturbing holiday intimidation campaign when residents started finding profane, threatening Christmas cards on their porches; surveillance shows masked men placing the notes and taunting cameras, neighbors are shaken, and the county sheriff is investigating while patrols increase. Several residents, including Jaret McComas, described grotesque messages and strange behavior that left families worried and determined to reclaim their block. The episode has sharpened concerns about political intimidation and public safety in a small town setting. Authorities say the probe is ongoing and are asking for tips.
Homeowner Jaret McComas said he was stunned when he opened one envelope and found a violent line aimed at an undefined enemy. “I pick it up, open it, and it reads, ‘Santa, I want the head of a Nazi under my tree,'” McComas told the station, a message that landed like a threat rather than a prank. That card was not isolated; others carried profanity and direct hostility aimed at anyone the senders labeled as political opponents. The tone of the notes made neighbors question whether this was intimidation tied to politics or just random vandalism.
Another resident pointed out ominous variations in the cards that went beyond crude language and into threats of action. “The one over there said a date, and they said, ‘You’ve been warned,’ like they were warning something is going to happen on a specific date,” Ungar said, describing a note that read more like a warning than holiday mischief. Ungar also flagged the political slant he saw in the messages, saying “all of the stuff that they were putting in [the cards was] stuff you have been hearing for Antifa.” That line of thinking points to a pattern of political theater meant to frighten people in their own yards.
Doorbell camera footage from some of the homes shows masked men placing the cards in various locations, such as planter boxes and on doormats, and then blowing a kiss to the camera. Another home’s surveillance camera captured the suspects spitting on a Tesla belonging to their neighbor.
Neighbors described the encounter as unnerving and unsafe, especially when families are home for the holidays. Simona Stacks said, “it’s really terrifying, to be honest with you, because we’re home. I have my 14-year-old daughter — what if she was outside? What if you see four men with masks on?” Her fear is plain and justified when strangers turn a festive season into a security concern. The behavior captured on cameras — masked people, taunting gestures, vandalism — changes a simple nuisance into a law enforcement matter.
Residents debated motive and targets, noting that not every house displayed the same kind of decorations or political signage. “‘When you have people roaming your neighborhood in black face masks, leaving violent notes and warnings, it’s kind of disturbing,'” Ungar said, capturing a common feeling on the block. Stacks suggested a possible motive tied to symbols around some homes: “Maybe it’s all the American flags, Trump flags. … It really does feel like a bit of a hate crime.” Those observations shifted the conversation toward whether this was random vandalism or targeted political intimidation.
San Bernardino County law enforcement moved quickly to treat the incident as a potential crime and to gather evidence from cameras and homeowners. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Jenny Smith told KCBS that officials there are “investigating to see what that crime could lead to, or what was the purpose of those letters. We don’t have a specific crime indicated as of yet.” Deputies reported that at least two suspects took off on foot when confronted, and the department increased patrols in response. The active inquiry shows authorities are taking neighborhood safety seriously while trying to pin down motive and suspects.
Some residents emphasized that political labels don’t fully explain who was targeted, complicating any single narrative about the incident. McComas noted to KABC that neither he nor his neighbors who received the cards display political signs or affiliations. “I am not a heavy conservative,” he added to KABC. “I’m gay, engaged to my fiancé, Roger. So it’s just kind of concerning for me because I am like, ‘What did I do?'” That personal detail undercuts simple assumptions and highlights how intimidation can cut across ordinary suburban life.
The street is trying to push back against fear with a dose of holiday determination and cooperation with investigators. “Gonna bring the Christmas spirit back to the street, and hopefully that cheers everybody else up,” McComas told KCBS, pledging normalcy and community in response to the harassment. Investigators believe there may be other victims and are asking anyone with information to contact authorities at 909-918-2330 as the probe continues. Patrols remain increased while neighbors work to secure cameras and watch out for one another.
