Christmas Is Saved: LA Deputies Rescue Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputies saved Christmas Sunday night with the rescue of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Some 10 days after it disappeared, a wooden Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is back at the Ranchview Road community in Rolling Hills Estates after a tip led sheriff’s deputies to recover it in a trailer park in Gardena and arrest the man who lives there, authorities said today.

According to a statement issued by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, “On the night of December 12, 2014, hearts were broken in the Ranchview neighborhood of Rolling Hills Estates. Thieves stole their highly admired and vintage Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer ornament. The wooden statue had been on display with its shiny red nose for all to enjoy, for over 50 years. The statue sat atop the Ranchview neighborhood sign located on Palos Verdes Drive North and Ranchview Road. The thieves had broken off the antlers during the crime. Investigators had little information to work with.”

But the statue was recovered Monday night after fliers circulated in the area led to a tip and sent deputies to a trailer park, where the statue was found atop a mobile home, said lieutenant John Burcher of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lomita Station.

He did not give the location of the trailer park.

“Lomita and South Los Angeles Station Detectives converged onto the location and located the stolen Rudolph ornament on the rooftop of the trailer home. It was remounted and lit up as if it was their own Christmas decoration,” according to the written statement. “Detectives obtained a search warrant and recovered the stolen ornament. They arrested the homeowner, Sandro Gonzalez, a resident of Gardena. He told detectives he was a gardener who worked in the Lomita area.”

Gonzalez was arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property. He found the statue, the lieutenant said. Whether he found the statue or stole it was under investigation. Gonzalez man was released on bail. His case will be presented to the district attorney’s office on Christmas Eve.

The reindeer statue with a red light bulb nose disappeared Dec. 12 and the Ranchview community built a new one Sunday, according to news reports.

The two Rudolphs may come in handy this Christmas, which is forecast to be a foggy one.

• City News Service
• Photo Credit: Youtube screengrab