Bear-napped Truffles found

GENEVA – Truffles, the kidnapped bear mascot of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in the Geneva Commons, has been found, store owner Lisa Cruse said.

Truffles, an oversized stuffed bear situated on a bench outside the chocolate confectionary shop, had been stolen June 26 in a brazen daytime bear-snatch that Cruse herself had witnessed.

Cruse saw a young, thin, blond girl with a ponytail, wearing turquoise shorts, who grabbed the bear and ran to a waiting SUV.

But by July 3, Truffles was safe in police custody, and later both he and his banana costume were returned to Cruse, who took them to Geneva Cleaners.

“It’s definitely dirty,” Cruse said of the bear and its costume. “We’ll find out this week how they they do at the cleaners.”

When Truffles is clean and ready for a return to his bench, Cruse said she will schedule a homecoming party.

“We are very excited that Truffles is coming home and he will be back on his bench for all to love and hug again and take selfies with,” Cruse said. “We’re excited we are going to have him back and not have to buy a new one. It will be the original, warm, fuzzy Truffles.”

The bears, which cost $350, are the official mascots for all the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory stores, she said.

Cruse credited a Geneva police officer with pursuing various leads on Truffles’ bear-napping, ultimately finding a suspect after a photo of the bear appeared on social media.

“Someone saw it on Snapchat and called the police department,” Cruse said.

Cruse said it is her understanding that those involved in taking the bear will face criminal charges.

And while Cruse would just as soon have avoided the trauma of the bear theft, she said she was heartened by the outpouring of support from customers and the community in general.

“People were asking for Truffles to be returned, even on social media. They were posting their photos with Truffles,” Cruse said. “I had a woman come in June 30 who saw the story. She had never been in here before. And standing right by the cash register, she did the St. Anthony prayer for me to get the bear back.”

Apparently, it worked.

St. Anthony of Padua, 1195-1231, is a patron saint of the poor who also helps those who seek lost articles, according to the Our Catholic Prayers website, www.ourcatholicprayers.com.