A small community in California is having trouble coming to terms with the absence of a holiday season tradition.
On Friday, a 200-pound wooden statue of Rudolph that is placed on Ranchview Road in the Rolling Hills Estates area of Los Angeles County every holiday season was stolen, according to CBS LosAngeles.
The statue had been in the community for more than 50 years. All that was left of the statue at the original site was a broken antler, according to CBS 2. Missing posters of the statue are circulating the neighborhood, and a police report has been filed.
Korry Taylor and her husband, Tim, who have been residents in the community for many years, are in charge of taking care of the statue.
"He's been up there for literally over 50 years and he's one-of-a-kind," Korry said to CBS. "He's handmade. Hand-painted. And the thought that someone would take him, it's just heartbreaking."
At first, Tim Taylor thought the theft was just a simple holiday prank.
“I originally thought, ‘Well, maybe it’s a prank. That somebody would bring him back,’" he said. "But it’s been a couple of days now and we haven’t seen him yet.”
“It is the lowest of low. I mean, especially at Christmas time. I literally cannot imagine someone taking Rudolph,” Korry added.
