Kidnappers Threaten To Bake Stolen Store Mascot (Pillsbury Doughboy)

[matcom]

<snip>

PLAISTOW — The letters started arriving at the Plaistow grocery store two weeks ago. All were typed meticulously in different fonts, every font in a different color and size. Each held a clue to the whereabouts of a missing member of the Market Basket family.

The first one was typed in bold black font, was mailed out of Manchester and read: "To whom it may concern: We have been shopping in your store for the past 20 years and if you close the store, the Pillsbury Dough Boy will be baked."

It contained a picture of the 4-foot-tall Styrofoam Pillsbury Doughboy, blindfolded, waving his puffy, white hand. Another showed him buried in the sand, with only his head peeking out.

The baking icon was "doughnapped" from the store April 15. He was snatched from his perch above the dairy section, where he kept watch over the butter and grated cheese for the past 20 years.

Since then, his captors have sent photos of his whereabouts every two days or so, complete with captions detailing his journey.

"He was the store mascot," said Maria Chester of Haverhill, who has worked at the store for 10 years.

Employees think their mascot's disappearance is linked to the store's closing. The Market Basket, one of two along Route 125 in Plaistow, is in Stateline Plaza on the Haverhill, Mass., border, and will close its doors for good Saturday, after serving the community for 20 years.

http://www.ecnnews.com/cgi-bin/15/etstory.pl?-sec-News+fn-fn-fn-fn-fn-pladoughboy.0504-20060504-fn

[kay1864]

1. Those Plaistow bastards!

I'm going to have a good cry now :cry:

[djeseru]

2. I love these "kidnappings."

My favorite about 20 years ago, was when Ronald McDonald was mcnapped from a restaurant in Oklahoma...the cops later found him bound in rope and duct tape a few days later with a note from his mcnappers saying he had been treated well.

[matcom]

3. .

:rofl:

[kay1864]

4. Is that the one where...

They sent a picture, with the ransom note saying "Give them what they want, or I'm McHistory"?

[Ariana Celeste]

11. LOL

That is beautiful, I'll be laughing about that for days! :rofl: "I'm McHistory"

[Left_Winger]

5. What do you see when the Pillsbury Doughboy bends over?

Doughnuts!

[giant_robot]

22. Not to mention his glutenous maximus.

:P

[giant_robot]

23. Dupe.

Doh! Err...I mean "dough"!

[giant_robot]

6. Oh, come on.

Who hasn't ever wanted to pop that giggling little dough wad into a pre-heated 350-degree oven just to see what happens?

[djeseru]

7. Oooh, I know! I know!

[jpgray]

8. ...

:rofl:

The little guy looking through the oven glass is what sells it.

[djeseru]

10. Yes.

He never fails to bring a smile to my face. :thumbsup:

[MissB]

9. hahahahahahaha

:rofl:

[LostinVA]

12. Hahhahaha! My SO thinks it's awful!

[GOPisEvil]

13. I love that picture!!!

Poor Pop in Fresh!!! :cry:


:rofl:

[djeseru]

14. Nothin' says lovin'...

...like fresh doughboys in the oven. :9

[GOPisEvil]

15. Teehee!!

;)

[Deja Q]

18. I had no idea you were pro-life!

:yoiks:

[djeseru]

20. Depends upon which of my personalities you're speaking to.

:crazy:

[Deja Q]

17. Gawd, that is utterly hideous!

:spray: :rofl:

[giant_robot]

19. ROFL!

That is classic!

[Jazz2006]

21. Ahahahahahaha! That's hilarious!

:rofl:

:rofl:

:rofl:

[donco6]

16. Oh my god! That's my ex mother in law's store!

Whatever will she do?

Knowing her, she's the one that took the doughboy.