UPDATE: The owner said a man returned the cone Thursday evening. He said the man told him a couple of his friends took it as a joke.
Owner Barton Weidlich said he offered the man $300 but the man turned him down and instead asked for a milkshake.
Weidlich gave him the milkshake.
He said he will be locking the cone inside for the night.
Original story:
PLAINS TOWNSHIP -- The owner of a business near Wilkes-Barre is searching for an unusual thief. It seems someone swiped a giant ice cream cone from a business in Plains Township.
The cone stands five feet tall and weighs nearly 100 pounds.
A lot of customers at Sprinkles and Shakes see that giant fiberglass ice cream cone as a part of summer. Now with it gone, many are left wondering why someone would take it.
Barton Weidlich is known in Plains Township for his sweet personality as much as he is for the sweet treats that he sells at Sprinkles and Shakes on North River Street near Wilkes-Barre.
But he says an ice cream cone crook somehow stole his giant frozen dessert sign from in front of his shop.
"I was a little disappointed," he said.
He values the cone at $1,500. For many customers, it was priceless.
Customers think there might have been more than one person involved because in the base of the cone was 80 pounds of concrete, just so no one would take it.
"I'm thinking, 'Who wants to pick up 80 pounds of cement?' So I think it's kind of crazy," said Linda Kelly.
The owner is offering a cash reward plus a free frozen treat for the safe return of his giant ice cream cone.
We're offering a $300 reward and free sprinkles on a small cone--No, I'm only kidding. They can get whatever they want if they bring it back, plus the reward," said Weidlich.
The owner does not have any plans to replace the cone with a different one, but he does want the original back. He says there will be no questions asked if whoever stole it does return the ice cream cone. And don't forget free sprinkles come with the reward.
