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Tell us if you've heard this one: An Elf on the Shelf walks into a police car...

A family moved from Oregon to Arizona only to realize their beloved Elf on the Shelf was missing. That's when police stepped in.

GILBERT, Ariz. — Gilbert police have extradited a burglary suspect from Oregon. The individual went into custody willingly and reportedly gave arresting officers candy canes in the process. 

At least that’s the rumor.

The make-believe extradition was carried out at the request of Jason McMahon, whose family moved from Oregon to Gilbert recently.

After unpacking, the family realized their Elf on the Shelf was nowhere to be found.

“I had seen something similar done in another state, so I called Gilbert police and they were really nice about it. They had a couple officers over about an hour later,” McMahon said.

8-year-old Ava McMahon was asked by police to identify the elf. The officers told her the suspect was caught trying to break into her previous home in Oregon. She and her friends were screaming with delight when they saw the doll sitting in the backseat of the squad car.

“She’s glad to be at our house,” Ava told 12News. “She likes drawing, and she eats sugar and cinnamon and candy for snacks.”

Jason McMahon says he appreciates the gesture from the police department. McMahon, originally from Gilbert, said he doesn’t plan to move again anytime soon.

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