A Savannah couple well known for lighting up its neighborhood during Christmas and other holidays is asking the community for a little help.
Bob and Betty Haldeman, who for nearly two decades have hosted extravagant light displays during nearly every major holiday at their Gordonston Avenue home, reported Tuesday to Savannah-Chatham police that the massive umbrella used to cover their hot chocolate and coffee station in winter was stolen from their front yard. Responding officers, Bob Haldeman said, wrote an incident report.
The umbrella, described as off-white with a gold pole, was purchased about two years ago and costs more than $200, Bob Haldeman said. He believes it was likely stolen Tuesday while he was at a local hospital where his wife was recovering from surgery.
“There’s not many umbrellas like this one around,” Bob Haldeman said. “We just want it back; it’s expensive, and we can’t afford to replace things like it all the time. Whoever took it, just return it, or maybe someone can help us replace it.”
Each December the Haldemans host a Salvation Army donation bucket at their home. In 2012 they raised more than $4,000 for the charity, bringing their about 15-year total to more than $60,000.
“I have never met a more caring and compassionate couple than Bob and Betty Haldeman,” said Capt. Marion Platt III, commander of the Salvation Army’s Savannah Branch. “... Bob and Betty are life-changers and a credit to our community; it hurts my heart to hear that someone has stolen something which I suspect the Haldemans would have freely given if asked.”