Officer Big Mac clearly not on the job as Ronald McDonald statue is kidnapped from Pennsylvania McDonald’s; Hamburglar not a suspect

The theft Sunday afternoon was caught on video.

This Ronald McDonald statue at a McDonald’s in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, has been stolen. (Rolando Pujol/2023)

The McDonald’s in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, has become a pilgrimage site for fans of McDonaldland due to its talking Apple Tree statue, which sits in its own glass-enclosed room across from a Ronald McDonald statue, perched on a stand high on a corner wall.

Well, Officer Big Mac clearly had the day off, because on Sunday, a group of people was caught on video walking away with Ronald McDonald. And as you can see from these photos released by the Nesquehoning Police Department, the Hambuglar was not involved – or at least, he sent human operatives.

Courtesy Nesquehoning Police Department

Per the police department:

“A few unidentified suspects waltzed into McDonald’s and walked out with RONALD McDONALD himself.

We’re not clowning around. This was a full-blown McNapping.

Ronald was last seen smiling, as usual, unaware of the betrayal. Witnesses say he didn’t even put up a fight.

To the suspects:

We get it — times are tough, and therapy is expensive. But kidnapping a plastic icon of joy? That’s a McFelony.

To the public:

If you see Ronald out in the wild — maybe at a party, passenger seat of a car, or sitting awkwardly in someone’s yard — please call us at 570-669-9111.”

It’s easy, and almost unavoidable, to make some light of the ridiculousness of what happened. But, needless to say, this is not OK. These statues are a treasure, and what few restaurants still showcase them should be commended for keeping this fiberglass nostalgia alive. They shouldn’t have to worry about having these fast-food relics purloined. The owner, reports WNEP-TV, has a sentimental attachment to the statue and wants it back.

The talking Apple Tree (button to activate it at left) was not disturbed. (But surely … was disturbed by what happened to his pal.) (Rolando Pujol/2023)

The restaurant’s general manager, Eve Snyder, was furious when she learned of the theft, telling WNEP-TV that the incident happened during a busy time in the kitchen on Sunday afternoon.

“I was very angry. I woke up to a text with a picture of the wall, and it said, 'Where is Ronald? Where is he?' So then when I checked the footage, you could see them in here horse around a bit, and then it was busy and they just scooped out the side doors."

Let’s hope Ronald is returned home soon.

H/T McDonaldland collector and Retrologist friend Tom Oszman for the news tip.