STAFFORD — A carved wooden iconic Jersey Devil statue was stolen Friday night from Lucille’s Luncheonette off Route 539, according to the owners.
The statue was an icon of the restaurant, where visitors would stop and take pictures with the carving, said Karen Bates-Flynn.
Bates-Flynn, who co-owns the restaurant with her sister Diane Brown, said her mother started using the Jersey Devil as the luncheon’s theme years ago. The eatery started selling T-shirts that read “I ate with the Jersey Devil,” she said. Eventually, the sisters connected with wood carver Joe Wenal of Rocky Mountain Carvers, who made the wooden statue that would stand outside the family’s restaurant for about six years.
“People love it. They love it because of the folklore,” said Karen Bates-Flynn. “It’s kind of like our version of the Loch Ness Monster.”
On Friday night, the statue was stolen, the sisters said. What appears in security camera footage to be an SUV towing a trailer with a Jeep pulls up to the statue and removes it, according to the footage shared by the sisters on Facebook.
“We opened on Saturday, and we always come through the back door,” said Bates-Flynn. “But one of our customers came in and said, ‘You know, a piece of The Jersey Devil is out in your parking lot, and it’s missing.'”
The sisters said they initially felt victimized by the theft. Bates-Flynn said the statue is likely beyond repair, given that one of its wings was discovered in the parking lot on Saturday and the security camera footage appears to show the Devil being dragged down the road.
When the women shared the story and photos to Facebook, the response was heartening, they said.
“Joe Wenal has already reached out to us and is in the process of making another one,” Bates-Flynn said.
She added: “We’ve had so much support from all of our community and all of our customers. So it’s really heartwarming to know that… just one person can do damage, but there are thousands of people that can… heal your heart a little.”
Source: Asbury Park Press.
Iconic Jersey Devil Statue Stolen UPDATE: Suspect has been identified as 52 year-old Thomas Bintz of Chandlersville, Ohio. An arrest warrant has been issued and he has been charged with theft and criminal mischief. Police are asking the public for help in locating him. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, contact Detective Conner at [email protected] or 609-597-1000, ext. 8461.