An obese squirrel has been caught on video stealing gourmet chocolate and lip balm that an Essex County family leaves out yearly as a holiday treat for delivery people.

Michele Boudreaux, of Maplewood, says on her blog that she provides candy, tissues, lip balm and other goodies on her doorstep for the various delivery people who come to her home during the holiday season.

She says that her basket was raided within hours. The thief was targeting the priciest stuff, including Ghirardelli chocolate squares.

Boudreaux says that her husband set up a surveillance camera and spotted the overweight varmint Tuesday. It cleared out all the chocolate, snack bars and throat lozenges.

She stumbled upon the thieving rodent in the act Wednesday, and recorded it taking more chocolate and a Carmex lip balm.

She says they now have the chocolate in a jar that requires opposable thumbs.