Owner: 6-foot M&M missing from farm

WALLINGFORD — For 18 years now, Beaumont Farm has been putting out whimsical displays for Christmas, Easter and summer to bring a smile to the faces of passersby, and owner Billy Beaumont is not going to let the theft of one M&M throw a damper on that.

Even if it’s a beloved, 6-foot M&M character.

Now he may have to install some additional cameras and otherwise tighten security at the 30-acre, 124-year-old farm at East Center Street and South Airline Road farm, which has been in his family since his great-great-grandfather started it in 1899.

But the show will go on, Beaumont said.

Nevertheless, he’s still hoping it was all a prank and the alleged M&M thieves will return the item, no questions asked.

“We just need it back. We just want it back,” Beaumont said. He said he hasn’t yet gotten the police involved, although that could happen at some point.

“We want them to return it ... especially since there’s no chocolate inside,” he said..

What’s important is that the farm’s displays make people happy, Beaumont said — and not just kids. “I can turn 90year-olds into 2-year-olds” just by making them laugh with some colorful characters, he said.

“This winter, we said, ‘Let’s put out some M&Ms for summer,’ ” he explained.

At first, he put out just a couple of the handmade M&Ms “dressed” as Easter bunnies for Easter, including another yellow, peanut M&M.

Now he’s got a full dozen M&M outs, both male and female, plain and peanut, as part of the display.

“We have all colors and there’s both males and females,” including orange, blue, purple, red, brown and green, in addition to the missing yellow M&M, Beaumont said. “I think there’s six girls and six boys.”

Beaumont noticed the yellow M&M missing just a few days ago, although nobody actually saw the candy-napping take place.

Then, someone tried to steal the purple M&M, also a female, but some good folks in a passing car pulled in and began screaming as the crime was taking place, according to Beaumont. Family and farm employees came running and the thieves dropped the confectionery contraband and fled.

“We were screaming at them,” Beaumont said. “They dropped her and they drove away.”

The farm initially took down the display — the M&M characters were “locked down and strapped to the ground” and are now “locked up and in the shed.”

But Beaumont said “they will be coming back out” soon “and there’ll be other things” to surprise and entertain people, as well.

Anyone with any information on the missing candy character can contact Beaumont Farm at 203-265-1819.

Billy Beaumont/Contributed photo Billy Beaumont said the M&M character that was stolen from Beaumont Farm in Wallingford sometime in May. Beaumont said he just wants the missing M&M back, no questions asked.