Anonymous Donor Replaces Inflatable Snowman That Was Stolen From Long Island Yard
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Central Islip family was dismayed when its inflatable snowman was stolen from its yard, but now it has a replacement, thanks to an anonymous donor.
Nearly two weeks ago, security cameras were rolling when a thief crept up the front lawn in the middle of the night and started dismantling the inflatable snowman. Inside, Edison Sepulveda and his grandparents were sound asleep.
"When I saw the security cameras, I was angry and my grandparents were pretty upset about it," he said.
Sepulveda said his grandfather, who speaks only Spanish, was particularly upset because he loves Christmas and would spend days decorating the lawn with many ornaments.
Sepulveda posted the surveillance video on his Facebook, hoping it might help police track down the person who swiped the snowman.
On Wednesday morning, he awoke to a great surprise -- a brand new inflatable snowman left anonymously on his lawn.
"Somebody with a good heart came and just sent us this," he said.
He said the stand-in snowman is virtually identical to the one that was stolen.
His grandparents were heartened by the stranger's caring generosity, but now they are being extra cautious. Most of their decorations have been moved inside.
Sepulveda's friends said despite the thief's actions, the replacement snowman is a tribute to the spirit of the season.
"It's a testament to the kind of people we have in this town to show we do have good people in town, especially at the holidays, you definitely get the best out of people," neighbor Gemaeel Jean-Baptiste said.
Police said the thief appeared to be a woman who rode off with the snowman on her bicycle.
