Stolen Santa Returned To Indiana Man With $100, Note

By Associated Press

UNIONVILLE, Ind. -- A southern Indiana man has gotten an early Christmas gift: A 16-foot-tall inflatable Santa Claus stolen from his yard has been returned with $100 and a note of apology.

Jason McClaren tells The Herald-Times (http://bit.ly/vPsMkQ ) that someone returned the deflated Santa to his Unionville yard early Saturday in a trash bag that also contained the money and note.

He says the anonymous note makes it clear that the person who returned the Santa wasn't the thief who took it and two 6-foot tall penguins this past week. The penguin decorations are still missing.

The typed note states: "Returning your property is the right thing to do, and apologies for the thief who took it in the first place."

McClaren says he plans to use the $100 to buy more decorations.

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Flickr photo by Ed Bierman

Comments

[antiquepicker62]

08:37 AM on 12/09/2011

A million years ago we stole the baby Jesus out of the nativity scene on the town common. My mother read it in the paper and even though she never knew my buddies and I took it her guilt trip worked. However, my friends sister had painted up too look like a baby Gene Simmons of Kiss fame. Too bad, needless to say all the statues are now bolted down. The things kids do????

[ChaseM1017]

01:24 AM on 12/06/2011

It always warms my heart to see that there are still some thoughtful thieves amongst us!

[lisakaz2]

01:13 AM on 12/06/2011

Why didn't give the money to charity?

[Suzanne525]

04:09 PM on 12/05/2011

Those inflatable "decorations" are eyesores. When did Christmas become such a garish holiday? However, I don't condone stealing or even damaging them. Even if I have had such dark thoughts cross my mind.

[peegan]

08:54 PM on 12/05/2011

My kids love them. We will drive around several evenings this time of year to see the decorations. They may seem garish to you, but to little ones they are magical. I'll put up with a couple of weeks of eyesores to hear kids squeal with excitement.

[Lisa Sylvester]

04:02 PM on 12/05/2011

I can see why Teens are always on the defense... It doesnt have to be a teen, could be a wife covering for her drunk husband, or a good citizen who witnessed the theft and in the spirit of the season wanted to do something nice anonymously..... Why people always blame teens is beyond me. They arent the only group in the world who do stupid stuff.

[Amanda Hout Howell]

02:58 PM on 12/05/2011

Sounds like something my parents would have made me do if I had pulled some prank like that.....maybe there are a few decent ones out there in the world. Although, my parents would have made me apologize face to face.....and pay the money with my allowance for the next year.

[Monica77]

01:55 PM on 12/05/2011

So the penguins are out on a lam still? lol cute

[jwyola]

01:47 PM on 12/05/2011

There Is a Santa Claus! Merry Christmas all!

[olookacookie]

04:25 PM on 12/05/2011

Merry Christmas to you too ◕‿◕

[jwyola]

07:14 PM on 12/05/2011

And to you

[bbass999]

01:06 PM on 12/05/2011

I think he should donate the money to Toys for Tots or something, or to a soup kitchen to feed people Christmas dinner who can't afford the goodies some of us can. One good deed bequest another. But to go buying more decorations is just not right but if he does make sure they are not made in China >= (

[lstr32]

03:36 PM on 12/05/2011

And what business is it of yours what he does with the money? His property was stolen and destroyed. I doubt $100 will replace all of it. Maybe this is a treasured tradition for his family. I get so sick of people saying everyone should give to charity. Most charities are a ripoff anyway. The CEOs are making huge salaries and bonuses from your donated money. If he chose to give it to charity then fine and bless him. But stop trying to guilt people into giving. I can barely make ends meet. I go to the grocery store with just enough money to feed my children very cheaply for a couple days and am sick of the bell ringers and cashiers making me feel guilty because I cannot afford to give money to every cause.

[lovecincy]

03:58 PM on 12/05/2011

I think he should do whatever he wants with the money so I agree with you on that aspect. But not all charities are rip offs and it IS A GOOD thing to give if you CAN. The bell ringer at my grocery store is kind even when I don't have any spare change or dollars on me to give so if some are making you feel bad then they are just bad bell ringers. Sorry you feel that way. God Bless.

[bbass999]

05:07 PM on 12/05/2011

And what business is it of your's to tell me what I can say. It's a friggin plastic blow up thing for gads sake... is it really needed that bad, if you don't want stuffs to get stolen don't put it out there where it can be because as much as some people don't want to hear it there is bad in the world, deal with it or don't complain.

[Mike Hyl]

07:27 PM on 12/05/2011

hUH LAST TIME I LOOKED THE SO CALLED POOR ARE BUYING BETTER FOOD AT THE GROCERY STORE THAN I AM, I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD KING CRAB LEGS IN YEARS BUT YOU CAN SURE BUY THEM WITH EBT/KANSAS VISION/WELFARE CARD... IVE SEEN IT DONE

[bbass999]

09:37 PM on 12/05/2011

I say you should get fired than be poor and you can have crab legs but you might have to give up some other stuff.... and wait a sec I never said I was all for the so called "poor people" as you call them, HELLO I pay taxes, you think I enjoy supporting people who are lazy and live off the system no,,,what I was saying is Christmas is all about giving, heck buy $100 worth of dog food and donate to a local animal shelter, after all them animals never choose to be where they are like some people do, no people put them there! But don't spent it all on some giant blow up figure, ewwww.

[Doreen Rice]

12:48 PM on 12/05/2011

I wish the guy would donate the $100 to a local food bank .... pay it forward dude!!!

[Justmetootles]

01:25 PM on 12/05/2011

In a way Doreen he is paying it forward, I know I enjoy people's lights and decorations in my neighborhood. Plus I enjoy the fact that it's not my electric bill paying for them! Happy Holidays!

[joeykos39]

05:37 PM on 12/05/2011

Why don't you pay it forward and donate in HIS name! If you've already donated, donate AGAIN!

[hman570]

12:07 PM on 12/05/2011

Looks like a Mom and Dad cover up to me. Sorry that is how I read it.

[psandysdad]

11:53 AM on 12/05/2011

Fear of being put on the 'bad' list.

[Firithnovwen]

11:43 AM on 12/05/2011

Yeah likely a teenager committed the crime, glad they did the right thing

[wakohnen]

11:21 AM on 12/05/2011

Looks like Mom or Dad caught their child in the act. Good for them.

[Deb Gray]

11:59 AM on 12/05/2011

The only thing is if it was a child will he have learned anything by mom and dad covering for him. I hope they use his savings.

[wakohnen]

12:18 PM on 12/05/2011

exactly! plus make him/her work to earn it back.

[DamnHook]

01:15 PM on 12/11/2011

Oh yes.. Because if they didn't "cover" for him/her and instead called the police. Jail would serve them much better than the parents! They could make new, "better" friends. Then plan how to seek revenge when they all get out! Locking them up doesn't work, that's proven. Does more harm than good because their treated like crap and never given the help they need.

I don't see this as covering for their child. It's taking responsibility for what they brought into this world.

Society today believes that the Government is better at taking care of you're kids so we should let them handle everything. That's a big issue with me. If we assume this was some kids playing or acting out, the parents would know what is best. While others are brainwashed by the media & Gov. into calling the police on their own child.

If parents would just get involved with their kids, there would be a lot less of this type and other crimes.

The Government can't take care of it's own problems. How do they expect the Government to know how to properly take care of their kids?

[buzzardbut]

03:22 PM on 12/05/2011

Maybe it was the mom and dad that took them, and the kid cought them and returned them. Just saying...

[monicatg]

11:21 AM on 12/05/2011

I think it's highly suspicious that the penguins didn't show up. I suspect that the penguins wanted their freedom, took Santa as hostage, forced him to stand outside a Wal-Mart ringing a bell to collect money, then returned him with the $100 so the owner wouldn't try to track them down. Those penguins can't fly, but they're pretty shrewd birds. Just keep that in mind if you buy inflatable penquins this year. They simply can't be trusted.

[johnk01000]

11:47 AM on 12/05/2011

Penguins are evil anyway... they ONLY live at the SOUTH pole... they are just trying to move in on the NORTH pole gig of Christmas..

[monicatg]

12:23 PM on 12/05/2011

Right you are. Those penguins try to pull of this ''cutesy'' act, but it's all about world domination for them. Why do you think they have Emperor Penquins??? Mostly, I think they're just pissed off because they don't have knees.

[ccffl]

05:08 PM on 12/05/2011

Next thing you know they will be taking jobs away from the Elves.

[texturs]

11:51 AM on 12/05/2011

i'm lovin' it!............ laughing makes one feel sooooooooooooooooo good. thank you

[monicatg]

12:00 PM on 12/05/2011

.......glad you liked. There were no comments for that story, so I couldn't resist. Fortunately you aren't one of those wack ''I take things literally" users that feels the need to tell me that inflatable penguins aren't really capable of such actions.