Kid Dials 911 After Accidentally Touching Elf on the Shelf

Leave the elves alone.

Image via Mark Baylor

As with any other holiday tradition steeped in winter mystique, the infamous Elf on the Shelf method of cheer has a lot of rules. In addition to the first and perhaps most important rule of Elf on the Shelf (i.e. suspend all disbelief), there's this little caveat: If you touch this Elf on the Shelf, he or she may lose their ability to possess magical qualities almost immediately. Bummer.

This 7-year-old girl in New Jersey is clearly very aware of the dire circumstances surrounding the removal of an elf's magic, as she promptly called 911 after accidentally touching the fam's Elf on the Shelf and potentially ruining the holiday season. "Don't come to my house!" Isabelle says on the Mashable-spotted 911 call, adding that she actually meant to call her dad to warn him of the forthcoming absence of magic. "She was hysterical, she was crying," Isabelle's mother, Lynanne LaPeruta, tells NBC New York.

The 911 operator, of course, didn't heed Isabelle's request to simply ignore her call, instead sending the necessary authorities to the Old Bridge residence. After an officer was gifted with the chance to say "Isabella apologized. She touched the Elf on a Shelf. She won't call 911 again." over the radio, the perilous Elf incident came to a close.

For future reference, there are options other than 911 for those unfortunate enough to accidentally brush against their respective Elf on the Shelf. According to the pastime's official website, one should leave it up to the esteemed North Pole doctors instead:

The more you know, the less elves' magic you potentially sabotage.

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