Ohio woman's black Santa returned 1 year after theft

LIMA, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio woman’s animated decoration of a black Santa Claus has been returned to her yard a year after it was stolen.

Diana Carter tells The Lima News she was awakened early Christmas morning by a noise outside her Shawnee Township home and saw a silhouetted figure lying in the front yard. She called police, who confirmed that it was her Santa swiped last year on Christmas Day.

Carter says Santa held a Christmas card. The envelope read: “From the robbers to the victim.” Inside the card was the message, “Keep Santa safe. We tried. It’s a miracle he’s back.”

Carter says she forgives who ever took her Santa, which had been a gift from her late husband and was something of a neighborhood attraction during the holiday season.