EASTMAN, Ga. -- As the spookiest day of the year draws near, a Dodge County woman says it’s not ghosts that scare her, but thieves.
While it’s not her favorite holiday, Shirleyann Smith loves to fill her home and yard with pumpkins, goblins, and ghouls.
"I like the animated decorations like the one behind you. It makes noise, it turns, lights up I love those," she said.
Smith started her haunting collection back in 2016 and it grows more frightening every year.
"I love it because my kids love it," exclaimed Smith.
So, imagine her surprise and confusion when she came home to see some of her spooky friends, had magically disappeared.
"Before we even pulled into the front yard, my daughter was like, ‘mom, something’s missing.’"
Two sets of decorations had been pulled out of her grass and stolen. Smith had just bought them.
"I’m like no, this is not happening again," she recalled.
Weeks earlier, a new bike was also stolen from her yard while her kids played outside.
Smith says her son watched as a man backed a pick-up truck into her yard and took the bike.
Though she filed a police report that time, the mom says since the bicycle wasn't recovered, she didn't bother to make one this time.
Losing the decorations was frustrating because for Smith she doesn’t just decorate for herself but for her kids.
After posting online about the Halloween tricks, the mom and her family finally got a treat. A neighbor gifted them more creepy yard displays.
"To have that favor done to me, I was not expecting that," she said beaming.
Though her love for the holiday is still intact, Smith can’t take anymore toil or trouble, saying she's waiting until the day before or the day of Halloween to put the donated decorations in her yard.
"No time soon without no cameras," she said.
We checked in the Eastman Police and Dodge County Sheriff who say there have not been any other reports of stolen yard decorations.