25-Foot Inflatable Gorilla Stolen in Wash

1010 WINS ^ | Apr 6, 4:39 PM EDT

[Calpernia]

Police are looking for an oversized but rather limp gorilla. Owner Mike McDaniel said the 25-foot blue and yellow inflatable animal was cut from its tether at the Viking Village shopping center after the air was let out because of high winds last Friday.

The overgrown ape, which was being used to advertise a hot tub sale at the mall, was more vulnerable to thieves because they could make an instant getaway, McDaniel said.

"If it's fully inflated, it does take five or 10 minutes for it to fully drain out," he said.

According to a police report, the last All Seasons Spa and Stove employee left the mall at 6 p.m., and the gorilla was gone when a night guard came to work three hours later.

Also taken was a fan used to inflate the unnamed gorilla, said McDaniel, who rents inflatable advertising characters from his business, Air Play Rental of Camano Island.

"I could just see it, some party blows this sucker up," said Judy Chapman, who coordinated the annual sale.

McDaniel, who has offered a $500 reward for return of the monster monkey, said it would cost $5,000 to replace, and he stands to lose $1,500 in rental income by the time a new one arrives.

At the same sale last year, vandals slashed the gorilla's leg, he said.

[kingattax]

Did it look like this ?

[Calpernia]

I'm blind! I'm blind!

[kingattax]

OOPS..sorry...i forgot to pass out these

[Calpernia]

That was cute :)

Bump!

[squidward]

"Police are looking for an oversized but rather limp gorilla"

He probably wasn't keeping Mrs. Gorilla happy at home judging by this line.

[presidio9]

[Petronski]

Where's the inflation nozzle on that thing?

How many people are now thinking of the scene in Airplane! when the stewardess had to reinflate Bob the autopilot?

[Clemenza]

Ironically, I was in that area last week.

Hey, I needed some decor for my apartment!

[presidio9]

Sure you weren't just "lonely?"

[Fierce Allegiance]

Me too.

[Doogle]

Where do they put the inflatable gorilla droppings?



Doogle

[Calpernia]

Maybe that is where balloons come from?

:)

[PoorMuttly]

Technically, Giant Inflatable Gorilla droppings are Giant Inflatable Gorilla EGGS. Non-scientists call them "balloons."

Now another important point...just as I told nice mister State Trooper...I was nowhere in the vicinity of the disappearance...being asleep in my Official Pup Tent after a marathon Official Yo-Yo Practice Session, and waiting for the swelling to go down.