March 16 (UPI) — An Ohio popcorn shop said a 70-pound popcorn ball valued at $700 was returned anonymously four days after it was stolen.
The popcorn ball, created by Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop for the city’s annual New Year’s Eve popcorn ball drop, was stolen from a display spot outside the store at some point Saturday, the store said.
Police were contacted when it was confirmed missing Monday, and someone anonymously returned the ball to the store late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
Manager Patti Raymond said store owner, Dewey Forward, found the ball on a bench outside the shop Wednesday morning.
“It appears to be intact, not smashed up,” Raymond told Cleveland.com. “There was an uproar on Facebook, people were appalled and amused at the same time.”
The popcorn ball was dyed with multicolored stripes by the store for the New Year’s celebration. It was auctioned off — as were popcorn balls created in the three preceding years — with proceeds going toward Town Hall renovations, but the winning bidder had not yet taken ownership of the item.
Police have not identified any suspects in the theft.
