'Star Wars' action figure robot-napped from home

The Force apparently was not strong with R2-D2, at least not strong enough to keep him from being kidnapped from a Martinez home.

"It was strange," said Michael Jeffers, who owns the McCormick Road home and reported to Columbia County deputies that a Star Wars R2-D2 ice cooler had been burglarized from his property and later moved to his front yard. "It was weird."

Jeffers reported that someone had stolen the 4-foot-tall Star Wars R2-D2 ice cooler from an out-building on his property.

The R2-D2 cooler was filled with more than $150 of Star Wars memorabilia that belonged to Jeffers' 19-year-old son, Cory, who won the store display cooler in a raffle. Cory returned home shortly after 8 p.m. Jan. 12 and found the R2-D2 cooler moved to the front yard and void of the Star Wars memorabilia that had been stored inside it.

Three notes also were found, one stating: "If you ever want to see R2-D2 again, search the woods behind you before it is too late."

Both Michael and Cory Jeffers said they believe the incident was a prank and they have an idea who might have broken into the building.

"People just don't have any respect for other people's property nowadays," Cory said.