Hot air balloon stolen from woman who planned to fly in late husband's honor

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KABC) -- A Santa Monica woman wasn't able to honor her late husband at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta this weekend after a thief made off with the balloon her daughter planned to pilot.

The theft happened Saturday morning, 10 weeks to the day from when Lucinda Wallace's husband passed away.

The fiesta is an event that Wallace and her husband, Rick, attended for decades.

"He loves to fly. He flew balloons. He flew hot airships," said Wallace.

Wallace had planned on flying their balloon, "A Rainbow through Heaven," in his honor. Their daughter helped design the balloon.

"This one would have been the 34th year, so the ballooning has meant a lot to our family," said Wallace.

Their balloon and SUV were stolen out of a hotel parking lot. Wallace called police and reported the theft.

"They have taken something away from our family and they've taken the joy we were going to have in honoring my husband," said Wallace.