Neubauer’s Christmas star stolen, reward offered
Surveillance footage
A still from surveillance footage shows a suspect loading a star from Neubauer’s Flowers & Market onto a light-colored van in an early morning theft Wednesday.
Suspects use bolt cutters to remove a star outside Neubauer's Flowers and Market in Uniontown early Wednesday in this still from surveillance footage.
A suspect holds a stolen star with one hand on the roof of a light-colored van after helping to steal the star from Neubauer's Flowers & Market in Uniontown early Wednesday.
A stolen star won’t darken the Christmas spirit at Neubauer’s Flowers & Market House in Uniontown, said owner Steve Neubauer.
“This is the season of hope and faith, and the outpouring of support has been overwhelming,” he said.
Uniontown City Police are searching for the people who stole the large, lighted star at about 4:40 a.m. Wednesday, cutting through an anchor attached to a cement pillar and loading the 6-foot, 75 to 100-pound ornament onto the roof of a van.
Surveillance footage shows the passenger holding the star on the roof with one hand as the driver pulled away from the Church Street shop. The suspects rushed into the van twice when vehicles passed. Police said the suspects appear to be white males driving a light-colored van with a spare donut tire on the passenger side. One of the suspects was wearing a dark-colored hoodie with printing on the back, they said.
Surveillance footage posted on Facebook generated 18,000 views in about 16 hours.
Neubauer said the star was first displayed five years ago as a landmark for the store, and quickly turned into a photo opportunity for families. He decided to display the star after reflecting on childhood memories of driving through Uniontown looking at Christmas lights. His reaction to the theft was “disbelief.”
“I look at myself as a little kid who has never grown up and loves Christmas, and I can’t imagine that someone would be brazen enough to do that,” he said.
He said the star is delicate and was likely damaged in the theft, but he is holding out hope that someone will give information leading to the star’s return.
But even if the star is not returned, he said a new display will be up next year.
“It won’t stop us,” he said. “It won’t deter us from the spirit of Christmas.”
A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.
Anyone with information is asked to call Uniontown City Police Department at 724-430-2929 or Fayette County Crime Stoppers at 724-320-2042.