041213 Spongebob Disappearing From Burger Kings

Jacksonville, FL - Evil Plankton is the obvious suspect, but landlubbers are more likely to blame for a rash of thefts of 2.7-metre-tall and 2.7-metre-wide SpongeBob SquarePants inflatables propped on the roofs of Burger King restaurants.

More than 50 SpongeBob-nappings have been reported from Florida to Utah since the pop icon started appearing on fast-food restaurant rooftops in a promotional tie-in with his movie Nov. 11. Employees at a Burger King near Palatka are among the latest to report the theft of the $500 US balloon last weekend.

"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," Putnam County sheriff's Lieut. Steve Rose said. "If any leads come across, we will follow up in hopes of making an arrest."

As part of the promotion, 4,704 inflatable SpongeBobs weighing 22 kilograms were ordered for restaurants, said a Burger King spokesman, who did not want to be identified. 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 seem to have turned up on eBay, selling for as much as $1,000.

Burger King is not actively pursuing the missing inflatables, the Burger King spokesman said. "At the moment, it is sort of a very amusing phenomenon. We hope it is just a prank, and the SpongeBobs come back."

In Canada, none of the inflatables have gone missing from any of the handful of outlets that have them on their roofs, said spokeswoman Lisa Brenneman. "We have had none kidnapped yet, so far. But one day, I'm sure, I'm going to walk into the office and there'll be a ransom note."

Miami-based Burger King Corp. has 7,956 stores in the United States and 345 in Canada, and about 7,000 participated in the promotion. Not all of them ordered balloons.

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