Penguins from Highland Street Display Missing

Have you seen the penguins from Highland Street?

Over the last two weeks, the well-known display has seen eight of the 14 statues stolen from the yard. According to homeowner Michelle Sullivan, two were stolen Sunday along with their fence.

Below is an open letter to the thief from Sullivan:

Dear person who stole the penguins,

You may think you have stolen a couple of two-foot tall black and white figurines in the shape of a penguin. You have not. You have stolen much, much more than that. You have taken away something that made numerous people happy.

How do we know this? Let me start with the many letters we have received over the last year and a half. These letters all express thanks for the unexpected smiles or letting us know that a particular scene brightened someone’s otherwise bad day. These have all been lovingly kept as a reminder of why we do this. Or let me tell you about the great number of people who stop by when we are in the yard to tell me firsthand how much joy these little birds bring to their lives. Some have even gotten out of the

car for a hug. Or lastly let me tell you about their Facebook page, Waddleworld, with 245 followers with hundreds of comments letting us know we are doing a good thing.

What started out as a Christmas display turned into a year round continually changing scene depicting both local events such as the Boston Waddlethon and Patriots games to national events such as the Penguins doing he ALS challenge. We have loved creating these displays as much as those who love to see them. It is our small act of kindness to our community with the sole purpose to elicit a smile.

We have taken the display down for now (we are down to 6 out of an original 14 penguins). We are not sure if we will be able to display them again without fear of more being taken. You have not only stolen penguins, you have stolen a little piece of his communities heart and we are sad.

Sincerely,

The penguin parents at Highland Street

P.S. - Should you choose to return the penguins, there will be no questions asked.