Longstanding Mystery: The Penguin

[vladicravich]

Now this is a story - I wasn't able to attend the police meeting, but this search for Wink is something anyone could get behind - especially with such a strange history.

Maybe you've seen my earlier post, I'm a reporter for the Queens Tribune - so if you guys start any fundraisings or put up posters or do just about anything past forum conversations, I'd be happy to cover it.  Keep me in touch guys - and Godspeed.

[CALIFORNIA]

Does the theft of our penguin statue merit the attention of Interpol?  I think so!
http://www.interpol.int/Public/WorkofArt/Default.asp
 
The theft of cultural objects affects developed and developing countries alike. The two countries most affected by this phenomenon are France and Italy. The illicit trade in cultural objects is sustained by the demand from the arts market, the opening of borders, the improvement in transport systems and the political instability of certain countries.

It is difficult to gauge the extent of the trade for two reasons

The theft is very often not discovered until the stolen objects are found on the official arts market.
countries send very little information to INTERPOL and many do not keep statistics on this type of criminality.
In order to combat the theft of cultural property, the relevant organizations and the public need to be made more aware of the problem. This is the primary objective of these web pages.

International organizations must lead the way in this fight, and since 1947, INTERPOL has been specifically involved. The first international notice on stolen works of art was published in that same year. Since then, the techniques have evolved greatly and INTERPOL has developed a highly efficient system for circulating information in the form of a database accessible to INTERPOL member countries, as well as the more widely available INTERPOL Stolen Works of Art CD-ROM.

These web pages have been created to further extend the circulation of information concerning stolen works of art, and include:

the most recent stolen works of art reported to INTERPOL
works of art recovered by the police during their enquiries and for which owners have not been identified
works of art recorded in the INTERPOL database and CD-ROM which have been recovered
the latest INTERPOL posters showing the most sought after stolen works of art
INTERPOL would like to encourage you to make extensive use of its services, and play an active role in the pooling and exchange of information. This is one of the most important contributions you can make to help curb the erosion of our cultural heritage.

[Shelby2]

We are not the only ones missing a penguin statue.

Penguin thefts eerily similar

We might have an international penguin thief to contend with!

Click the link above to read the story.  It starts with:

"Is there a serial penguin-napper on the loose, moving freely across international borders in pursuit of the perfect crime?"

[Chuckster]

That's very interesting.  I wonder if our penguin was hollow?  In any event, if and when the penguin is replaced, the following should be taken into consideration:

"Her penguins in Windsor have been reinforced with aluminum plates, stainless steel and stone to prevent another theft."

[Really4rob]

You know as I read this thread over, I get this zany image of Batman and Robin from that campy TV version (it was befoire I was born, but the reruns permeated my 70s childhood):

"Holy waterfowl, Batman, the penguin in Jackson Heights is gone too!"
"Precisely chum.  And I think we all know who's fiendish mind this must be the work of ..."

::cue the spinning Bat thing::

[Aronan]

Oh that evil Penguin... up to his old tricks again !

Hey, isn't chum another word for shark bait ? The plot thickens...

[Really4rob]

Oh that evil Penguin... up to his old tricks again !

Priceless!  LOL!

Now if we see guys wearing bowler hats and saying SQUID and OCTOPUS on their black T-shirts, we know to follow them.  They are either his henchmen or on their way to order at Tomo!

[toddg]

As reported on JH Families, Wink is back!  

He returned just in time for summer from his Southern Hemisphere migration.  Or perhaps he was rescued from unspeakable peril by the good folks at Linux.  Who knows?  It's just good to have him back standing guard over 75th Street!


Old image of Wink from Forgotten NY

[RandeeDawn]

That's awesome!!

[leoooog]

I did a double-take when I saw the penguin today. When was it replaced?

[toddg]

Status report, as of the morning of June 26, 2009:

Wink, the South-Facing Penguin of Jackson Heights: returned from mysterious travels abroad
Wink's cousin Wink, the North-Facing Penguin of Elmhurst: still missing, perhaps frightened by a big "Do Not Feed the Pigeons" sign

[tallman]

That is great news.  Hopefully he's back to stay and I am curious to know how he spent his sabbatical.

[Really4rob]

That is great news.  Hopefully he's back to stay and I am curious to know how he spent his sabbatical.

Don't know if he's the same, or new, but suspiciously, now the street was being worked on.  Perhaps it was in his contract rider that if he returned, the streets had to be improved?   

[Aronan]

I think it might be prudent to fit Wink for a Lojack collar. Classy of course, perhaps with rhinestones. At least this way if he takes off again we can track his whereabouts.