So. Fla. Sandy Hook tribute stolen

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida homeowner has been left troubled after something meant to honor the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting was stolen from his front yard.

Coral Springs resident Rick Riley was so moved by the awful news out of Newtown, Conn. about the massacre of innocent children that he felt he had to do something. So Riley lined up 26 American flags on his lawn in Coral Springs.

"That was our way of saying we care, we hurt, we grieve for those involved," said Riley.

But a couple days later, he noticed each and every small American flag he had put out to represent each life lost was now gone.

Homeowner's Association President Chris Kapish said, "I think that's a terrible thing to do. I mean, it's a display, and why anyone would want any of those items and the value of them, I don't know. Unless they were going to put them up in their own yard. I really don't understand it. It's really baffling."

Riley's special memorial was stolen, and this is not the first time sentimental objects have been taken from this yard.

The nativity outside Riley's Coral Springs community, Turtle Run, has been around for eight years, but last year, somebody stole the baby Jesus and this year, they swiped Mary and Joseph.

Last year, baby Jesus was found abandoned in someone's yard, but this year there is still no sign of Mary and Joseph or the 26 American flags.

In the spirit of the season, they have put up a sign reading, "Please pray for the thieves who stole Mary and Joseph."

So, if you're the thief, bring back the flag, bring back Mary and Joseph and promise to keep your thieving hands to yourself and we'll call it even. "That's what I think everyone here would be happy with, if they just brought everything back and put them right back where they belong," said Kapish.

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