Wednesday, January 30, 2013

“C steht für Cookie“ – Krümel Monster (German Cookie Monster)



This morning on my commute to work, my day was made brighter when I came across a blurb about a cookie heist in Germany.  Upon further investigation, I found the story so amusing that I declared it must be shared.

True Story:

Since 1913, Bahlsen, one Germany’s leading cookie manufactures, proudly displayed a giant 44 pound (or rather 19.96 kilogram…it is Europe after all) golden cookie outside its headquarters in Hannover. That is, until someone stole it earlier this month. 



But fret not! This week a ransom letter (made up of letters cut from newspaper and magazine clippings) turned up at a local newspaper. The note, signed by Krümel Monster (cookie monster), stated that if Bahlsen ever wanted to see their beloved golden treat again, they must deliver a shipment of cookies to a local children’s hospital. The letter specified that the cookies delivered to the children must be milk chocolate, and noted that dark chocolate or chocolateless cookies would not be considered acceptable. Should milk chocolate cookies not be supplied to all rooms of the hospital, the note warned that the giant golden cookie would be sent to the trash can of Oscar the Grouch, never to be seen again.

Currently there is a €1,000 ($1,347) reward being offered for information leading to the culprit. In the ransom letter, the kind-hearted cookie monster requested that this money be donated to a local animal shelter. The letter was accompanied by a photo of the apparent thief taking a bite of the golden cookie.


 



While the ransom note and the photo have been forwarded to criminalists for investigation, a spokesperson from the children’s hospital has been trying to remind the public that a serious crime has taken place: "One cannot forget that what we are dealing with here is a case of theft and blackmail…Bahlsen has already done a lot for our hospital -- it doesn't need to be coerced in this way." 

I beg to differ.  When it comes to cookies, I’m pretty sure, nay, I am certain that a little coercion never hurt anyone…especially coercion done on behalf of sick children. Bahlsen, this is a no brainer. Give the children their cookies!

Regardless of the outcome, this heist has me seriously questioning what I’m doing with my life.

Coincidentally, it also has me wanting to re-watch this classic: