A 14-foot, 150 pound Kansas City Royals player that was stolen from a billboard has been found.
Bob Fessler, vice president and Missouri territory manager at Lamar Advertising, said the piece of the billboard was found Friday morning across the street from where he was taken.
Thieves ripped the Royals player off a billboard sometime Wednesday night. The billboard is located as you drive toward Kauffman Stadium on Interstate 435 near Truman Road.
One of Fessler's coworkers at Lamar Advertising noticed it at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.
"I said, 'Are you joking?'" Fessler said.
He wasn't. Overnight thieves somehow stole the 14-foot, 150-pound Royals outfielder from the Hy-Vee ad.
"I've been doing this for 30 years. I've never had this happen," Fessler said.
Like hitting a homer, it wasn't easy. Five bolts held the 3-D Royals player in place. Thieves cut those at his legs, arms and torso. It was definitely a team effort getting him down.
"Somebody either must have been holding it with a rope while they were disconnecting it and I'm guessing somebody had to be down here as they were lowering it, so in my mind, I'm thinking minimum of three [people]," Fessler said. "And then what do you put it on when it's 14 feet long? It can't fit in an average pickup truck."
However, tire marks from the getaway vehicle are clearly visible at the crime scene.
Tire marks from the @LamarOOH @HyVee billboard to the road are clearly visible. pic.twitter.com/g3OzmDtdkN
— Andres Gutierrez (@AFGutierrez) April 28, 2016
The ad is one of five around the metro featuring the $7,500 player made out of foam.
Law enforcement don't have a clue where he'll end up.
"It would look great in a man cave if you can get it in there," Fessler joked.
The 3-D Royals players on the other billboards around the metro are in the process of coming down. They'll be housed in a warehouse at undisclosed location.
If you have any information regarding the theft, call the Jackson County, Missouri, Sheriff's Officer or KC Crimestoppers at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
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Andres Gutierrez can be reached at andres.gutierrez@kshb.com
