Carlos Associated Press
An inflatable SpongeBob SquarePants figure is shown on the roof of a Burger King in Miami. Posted on 12/02/2004 5:46:49 AM PST by Tarpaulin
Carlos Associated Press An inflatable SpongeBob SquarePants figure is shown on the roof of a Burger King in Miami. |
The balloons started appearing at fast-food restaurants in a promotional tie-in with his movie Nov. 11. A Burger King near Palatka, south of Jacksonville, is among the latest to report the theft of the $500 balloon.
"We don't have any theories. SpongeBob SquarePants is kind of a fad. It could be a childhood prank or an adult trying to get a fad item for Christmas," Sheriff's Lt. Steve Rose said Wednesday. "If any leads come across, we will follow up in hopes of making an arrest."
As part of the promotion, hundreds of inflatable SpongeBobs weighing 50 pounds were ordered for restaurants nationwide. The animated movie and TV star is featured on Burger King children's meals, watches and toys.
The bigger-than-life sized versions of The SpongeBob Square Pants Movie star also have turned up on eBay.
EBay spokesman Hani Durzy said stolen property is not allowed on the site, but it's almost impossible to know what's stolen and what's legitimately acquired. "We're in no position to know exactly how anyone gets the items they sell on eBay," he said.
Durzy said that if someone thinks an item on eBay is stolen, they should contact police, who will then contact eBay.
"As long as there is a police report filed for stolen property we will take listings down," he said.
Jim Twitchell, a professor of advertising and English at the University of Florida, suspects young men are behind most thefts of the famous Krabby Patty flipper.
"They will show up in fraternity houses for sure," he said.
Bush's fault.
Michael Moore needs pants....
Ping!
Jen, I know how much you loovvvvve SpongeBob...thought you'd want to know about this. ;-)
When I saw the headline, I thought for sure someone would say Michael Moore was sneaking off with them!
Gee, can someone tell me how big SpongeBob is in real life??
Depends on the size of your TV. But size doesn't matter.
It being a slow news day, they ran the story and played it straight the whole time. I nearly died laughing.
LOL! I didn't think about that.
When I was in school, there was a Domino's not 100 feet from our frat house. Back in the late 80's, Domino's had the "Noid", some kind of gremlin-like mascot, and the shop across the street from us had a giant inflatable one mounted on top of the roof. Well, it disappeared one night, and the university police immediately came banging on our doors. When they were satisfied that we didn't steal it, they went out to fraternity row and illegally searched the backyards and sheds of all the houses out there.
They never did find out who stole it, but it was returned when the city police mentioned on the news that it was a $5000 balloon, and that meant Grand Larceny.
I'm tempted to get one and put it in our front yard to see what the neighbors have to say.
It's Plankton's fault.
Yep... good ol' eBay... like they would even lift a finger. They are in bed with the toy scalpers.
check the sink (if they have those in Burger Kings).
You know when those damn things went up on top of the BKs they were going to be targets of golden opportunity!
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