Someone Stole Downtown Vancouver BIA's Mascot 'Poppy' & There's A Reward If You Find It
A beloved Vancouver mascot has been stolen and its owners are urging locals to keep an eye out. Downtown Vancouver BIA (DVBIA) announced that their mascot "Poppy" was stolen on Wednesday, April 15. The association is now offering a small reward for the safe return of the mascot costume.
Downtown Vancouver's Facebook page made a public plea on Thursday, April 16 with an attached photo of the adorable popcorn-shaped mascot.
The post read, "Have you seen this popcorn?? Our beloved movie nights mascot, Poppy, has been STOLEN! There will be a small reward for Poppy’s safe return, so please keep an eye out for our favourite box of popcorn (and its big red carrying case)!"
CTV News reported that the mascot costume is custom-made by a company in Burnaby that is known for producing mascot costumes. It's worth thousands of dollars, said Charles Gauthier, the head of DVBIA.
The mascot costume was the only item of value that was taken and the DVBIA is keen to have it returned to them in a safe condition.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has helped them identify a lead in the robbery.
Allegedly, a VPD constable spotted a man carrying an eight-foot duffle bag, which is where "Poppy" was stored. Upon further examination, the man told the cop that he found the bag in the garbage, according to CTV News.
Narcity has reached out to the Vancouver Police Department and we will update this article when we have a response.
Gauthier said that he thinks the mascot has already been sold or is making its way through a market somewhere. He doesn't know for sure, which is why he is urging the public to come forward with information.
Downtown Vancouver BIA has had "Poppy" roaming near the Vancouver Art Gallery for years, entertaining pedestrians and attendees during the summer movie nights.
The Vancouver Sun stated that the association is not prepared to get blackmailed over the return of "Poppy." They insisted that it's not a ransom situation and they're not willing to pay a ridiculous amount to get it back.
Heather McKenzie-Beck, a spokesperson for the BIA, said that the association is offering a gift card to anyone who can bring back "Poppy" in a safe condition.
Since a lot of city businesses have had to close their doors for the time being due to COVID-19, the city has experienced a rise in break-ins.
As a result, the city has had to shield many businesses with massive barricades to fend off intruders.
Unfortunately, it seems like this mascot thief did not get deterred and our favourite red-and-white mascot is nowhere to be found.
