A New Jersey dentist says a woman tore down his seasonal and sexy Playboy bunny display from the front of his home and practice did so only because television reporters were there and she wanted attention.

“She knew the cameras were there. She’s attention-seeking,” Wayne Gangi, who practices out of his Clifton home, said Thursday -- adding that he’s pressing charges against her.

Desiree Shepstone, 37, of Clifton, used garden shears on Tuesday afternoon to take down five mannequins that were dressed in sexy lingerie and holding Easter baskets, according to news video shot at the scene. In one video, Shepstone is seen snapping scissors or shears and saying, “Bye, bye.”

Shepstone has been charged with third-degree criminal mischief for damage exceeding $2,000, according to court records.

The display had been up for two days and was a “seasonal display” meant to honor Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, who would have turned 93 on Tuesday, according to Gangi.

A NJ woman said she was offended by her neighbor’s sexy Easter decorations.



Instead of filing a complaint w/the city of Clifton, she grabbed a pair of garden sheers and dismantled the entire display - IN FRONT OF OUR CAMERAS.



She is now facing a number of charges. @PIX11News pic.twitter.com/NvQcK73GqA — Andrew Ramos (@AndrewRamosTV) April 9, 2019

After taking down the mannequins, Shepstone placed them in Gangi’s driveway. When a reporter asked her why she took apart the display, Shepstone is heard on video saying: “Because it’s disgusting. I live across the street.”

Gangi said he was driving back to his office after lunch when he spotted Shepstone removing the last mannequin.

“I hollered out to her, ‘Hey what are you doing?’” Gangi said. “She responded by calling me ‘dude.’”

Gangi said he immediately called the Clifton Police Department and demanded she be charged.

“She vandalized my property and for that I’ll see her in court,” he said. “I’m not going to let this type of thing happen by this type of person. She’s a troubled neighbor who happened to see Inside Edition here and wanted attention for herself."

The woman, as you can see, takes apart the entire display.



When I asked her if she was concerned about getting a fine or being arrested for destroying someone else’s property - she said “no, I think it would be worth it.” pic.twitter.com/3WKXbVXkaj — Andrew Ramos (@AndrewRamosTV) April 9, 2019

Attempts to reach Shepstone were not successful.

On Thursday, the dentist’s yard was roped off with caution tape and a no trespassing sign.

“If somebody violates that space, they’re getting arrested,” Gangi said, adding that he plans to put the display back up by Friday.

Gangi said the idea for a sexy display began when an 85-year-old dental patient asked, “Get the girls out. Why are they in your basement? Dress them up again.”

Someone else in the office got the idea for a sexy bunny display, he said.

Gangi said he’s been putting up the mannequins for years around the holidays. He said last Halloween there were so many trick-or-treaters who came to see his display that Clifton police sent nearly two dozen officers for crowd control.

The dentist said he buys the mannequins on websites like Amazon and eBay and pays between $500 to $1,000 each.

“I spend a lot of money and put a lot of effort and time into these displays,” he said.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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