A 50-foot gorilla is on the loose. The inflatable behemoth that towered above the Sea to Sky Ford dealership to publicize its Gorilla Sales Events was stolen some time during the night of April 30, when a thief - or thieves - deflated the ape and took off with it."The dealership's inflatable gorilla was kidnapped!" stated a company news release.Representatives from the dealership and the RCMP are shaking their heads over the crime, with no leads and no idea who would want to steal a giant inflatable gorilla - even one that's worth approximately $3,000, according to Sea to Sky Ford general sales manager Bob Hewitt."You don't really suspect anybody stealing a 15-metre gorilla," Hewitt said.RCMP Cpl. Dave Ritchie said the incident could be anything from a theft to a prank."I don't know what resale value it would have," Ritchie said, noting that the gorilla is easily recognizable and the thieves left behind the pump needed to inflate the black beast-shaped balloon."I don't know why you'd want a 50-foot ape you can't blow up in your basement," Ritchie said.The gorilla disappeared some time between 8 p.m. April 30, when Hewitt locked the dealership for the night, and 7:30 a.m. May 1, when another employee opened it. The thieves deflated the ape and took off the straps tethering it to the ramp next to Highway 99, which Hewitt said would take a lot of effort."I can't believe anybody stole it, there's about 15 different straps on it. It's definitely a process," he said.The dealership is offering a $1,000 reward for the safe return of the giant ape. "We'd love to get it back, no questions asked," Hewitt said, adding, "We need him; we've got cars to sell."But Hewitt said dealership employees aren't going to be "hunting anybody down" - he hopes someone will come forward to the RCMP. Ritchie said officers have checked the pump for prints and are working to get the ape returned safely to its owners.Hewitt said the dealership has had the gorilla for three or four years, and losing it feels like losing a family member for the employees. He said having it returned would be "a bit of a morale boost for everyone."Police are asking anyone with information about the gorilla's whereabouts to call the RCMP in Squamish at 604-892-6100 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).
