Florida bar seeking return of stolen mannequin 'employee'

Feb. 2 (UPI) -- A Florida bar is asking for the public's help finding a missing "employee" -- a battered mannequin dubbed "Cheryl" by workers.

Wyatt Lawless, owner of Beer Punx in the Flagler Village area of Fort Lauderdale, said security footage shows a man surveying the bar before walking off with Cheryl.

"It wasn't a quick random grab. You know a grab-and-go," Lawless told WPLG-TV. "He was casing the place out and stood here for about 20 minutes."

Lawless said Cheryl wasn't just the bar's mascot, she was an "employee."

"Cheryl, one of our employees was kidnapped last night around 1 a.m.," Lawless wrote on the bar's Facebook page Tuesday. "We are worried sick about her, and will reward anyone who has information leading to her safe recovery. Thank you and God bless."

Lawless said the mannequin has been stationed outside the bar for the past 8 months.

"She was just a staple of the community," Lawless said. "It sounds funny, you know, but Cheryl was like over 100 bucks."