http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/ronald_53288___article.html/cook_gridley.html
What happened to Ronald?
Statue of beloved fast-food icon stolen from Gridley restaurant
By Robert LaHue/Appeal-Democrat
August 28, 2007 - 11:10PM
It’s not every day Gridley-Biggs police announce an arrest warrant for the Hamburglar.
But in a particularly quarter-pounder-with-cheesy crime, the Ronald McDonald statue inside the play area of the Gridley McDonald’s was pilfered, leaving Happy Meals a little less happy.
“I don’t know what anyone would do with Ronald,” Assistant Chief Brian Cook said Tuesday.
Cook said the department was having a little fun with the incident, issuing a press release noting Ronald was last seen in large red shoes, bright red hair and red nose.
But Cook also noted there was a crime and significant monetary damages.
The value of the Ronald statue is reported to be $1,800, well over the $400 limit for the incident to be considered grand theft, Cook said.
Police hope the media attention for such an unusual crime may assist the department in locating Ronald.
The statue was taken Saturday after McDonald’s employees left at 2 a.m. The theft was reported later that morning.
“The officer was surprised when he was dispatched to the call,” Cook said.
In order to get to Ronald, the suspects had to jump a fence into the play area and unbolt Ronald from the bench he was sitting on, he said.
Cook figures such a crime would take multiple people to pull off, since he figures the statue would be fairly heavy.
“It wasn’t Styrofoam,” he said.
Most Internet information available says the statues are usually made of fiberglass or PVC.
“This was an unfortunate incident, and we are cooperating fully with the Gridley-Biggs Police Department in its investigation,” said Gridley restaurant franchisee Mark Burrington.
Grimace, Mayor McCheese and the Fry Kids could not be reached for comment.
Ronald McDonald made his debut in 1963 and was portrayed by Willard Scott, better known as the long-time weatherman on NBC’s “Today” show.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ronald is asked to contact Gridley-Biggs police at 846-5678.
