Make way for bassstids!!!!! Thief makes away with duckling from Public Garden

[MADem]

Great location for a city camera, IMO:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/04/thief_makes_awa.html

...Park Rangers on routine patrol noticed this morning that Pack, the seventh of eight ducklings, had been stolen from their brick path near the corner of Beacon and Charles streets. The young fowl have stood in a curving line behind their mother, Mrs. Mallard, since Nancy Schon created and installed the sculpture in 1987. The work celebrates Robert McCloskey’s timeless children's book, "Make Way for Ducklings."

“Not only are the Make Way for Ducklings loved by everyone, but they are public art,” Mayor Thomas M. Menino said in a statement. “This act is not a prank, it is a crime. We would strongly encourage anyone with information to please come forward to assist with Pack’s safe return.”

It's not the first time ....In 1987, when the ducks were first placed in the garden, Quack was taken before the cement even dried. In 1988, Mack was stolen, and in 1992 Quack was taken again. That time, his theft caused such an outcry that buttons reading "Bring Quack Back" were sold to raise money for his replacement.

Jack, the eldest of Mrs. Mallard's eight children, has been stolen twice: He was cut from his family in 1995 and in 1999, thought in the second case he was later found under a desk at a Boston College library.




If caught, the perpetrator could face larceny charges for the theft of public art. Officer Michael, from the children's book, and the entire Boston Police Department are encouraging anyone with information about Pack to call the District A-1 detectives at 617-343-4248.

[Bunny]

1. Can anyone testify to the whereabouts of graywarrior on or about the day in question?

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. lol n/t

[janx]

14. She did say she would free the duck (but then she didn't?), but

I don't think this was exactly what she had in mind. ;-)

[On the Road]

2. Oh, No! Not "Make Way for Ducklings"!

I used to love that book when I was little.

[MADem]

7. And to add insult to injury, the snapped him off by his lttle webbed FEET!! nt

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Please bring back Pack!

There's no reason for doing this. The sculpture is beautiful and should remain intact.

[foo_bar]

4. OH THE HUMANITY

I bet it was some MIT kids with a teleporter. Seriously I hope the mallardfactor is brought to quack justice.

[doctor jazz]

6. I canardly believe you said that.

:silly:

[MADem]

8. When you toss remarks like that, you'd better be prepared to

DUCK!!!!

:rofl:

[dysfunctional press]

10. this is not a poultry matter...someone is afowl of the law.

[MADem]

12. ....

:rofl:

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

9. around here they busted a woman stealing real live ducks

This older vietnamese woman was caught trying to stuff two live ducks (with their wings clipped) into the trunk of a BMW, apparently she had been "hunting" at this park for years. She told the sheriff her grandkids wanted them as "pets"

[MADem]

11. Oh, yeeesssss!!! Very tasty pets, too!!! Easter is coming, the ducks are getting FAT!!!

:rofl:

Jeez...you'd think a BMW driving granny could afford to go buy her ass a few ducks.

As the birdies say: "Cheap, cheap, cheap!"

[petronius]

24. It surprises me that that doesn't happen more

Especially in parks with big hordes of Canada or domestic geese wandering around, it seems like it would be pretty easy to stuff one in a bag once in a while...

[MADem]

13. UPDATE!!!!!! PACK IS BACK!!!!

They've found him, guess the perp dumped him when he saw the heat was on!!!

He was on the news with a Red Sox cap on (it was opening day).

His poor little webbed feet were a bit wounded.

[ddeclue]

15. Oh CRAP... I thought you meant REAL ducklings...

It's a statue?

I care a lot less now...

:P

[Marrah_G]

16. Yay! I'm glad he is back.

[MADem]

17. Me too--they left him by a tree!

Mary Hines, Director of External Affairs for Boston Parks and
Recreation poses with the missing duckling statue that was
recovered this morning.


The beloved Robert McCloskey duckling “Pack” was found early this morning on Beacon Hill, just a short waddle away from its home at Boston Common, according to Boston Police.

The statue was found at about 3 a.m. at Brimmer and Mt. Vernon streets, said Boston police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll....Driscoll said it’s unclear when the statue will be returned. For now, it is being kept at a Boston police station.

Details of the duck discovery weren’t immediately available, either, she said.

Boston Park rangers discovered the foul act yesterday at 10 a.m. They noticed the bronze sculpture was missing and had been sawed from its mount, said parks spokeswoman Mary Hines.



http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2009_04_07_Missing_duckling_sculpture_recovered/srvc=home&position=also

[ddeclue]

18. Was he trying to migrate??

:shrug:

[MADem]

19. Someone used a SAW to get his little feet off his mount!

A poster speculated that they may have been after the metal, and that could be so. Maybe they thought he was copper instead of bronze....

[ddeclue]

20. I hope he has AFLAC!

Sorry I couldn't resist!

:rofl:

[MADem]

22. Heh heh....

[foo_bar]

21. it looks like they were heading for City Hall, or the red line

Not to go all "inside the mind of the suspect" but the Lynnway is the logical place to fence ducks, $85/ton no questions asked... I suspect fowl play, possibly an initiation rite like retrieving Geronimo's skull.

[jazzjunkysue]

23. Bring Pack Back! (I'm going to Boston tomorrow!)

Can't wait! Lobsta! Bostan creem pie! Woo Hoo!

[Kalyke]

25. Sssssuffferin' sssssucatash!