Mom's Purse Stolen? Detective 'Elf on the Shelf' is on the Case

BRISTOW, VA — As public information officer for Prince William County Police, Sgt. Jonathan L. Perok often is tasked with dealing with matters from the mundane to the murderous.

But earlier this month, he swapped his regular duties for those of a crime detective, and his fellow officer in the endeavor was none other than Elf on the Shelf.

Rather, Freddie the Elf, who keeps an eye on the 8-year-old son of Lorraine Villahermosa, of Bristow.

Villahermosa had her purse stolen from the backseat of her car Dec. 7, and it contained nothing of real value save her son's beloved Elf on the Shelf but she still reported the theft to police. The next day, when Freddie was a no-show, Villahermosa told her son it must have been because he was helping police find out who stole her purse.

Turns our her purse had been recovered but she was told she couldn't get the elf from the evidence locker until Dec. 9. Her sister, with the help of a Facebook friend, connected her with Perok, to whom she explained her situation.

That's when Perok bought a replica of Freddie and enlisted the elf's help, sending photos to Villahermosa to show her son that his elf indeed was helping to work on the case.

"I was just looking to help a mom in need," Perok said Monday. "It didn't really take long to take the photos once I bought an Elf.

"I was happy to help out."

Here's what her son read on her Facebook page; "Freddie is knee deep in collaboration with the PWCPD. Looks like they may be closer to cracking the case of the stolen purse. . .Freddie and Sergeant Jonathan Perok have teamed up and together they will not fail!"

Photos: Prince William County Police