Nov 30, 2004 By Jennifer Harr 2 min read

DUNBAR TWP. – SpongeBob, come home! Sandy Hyatt, the manager of the Burger King at the Laurel Mall issued a plea Monday for the safe return of the 9-foot-tall, canary yellow, inflatable SpongeBob SquarePants swiped from the roof of the fast-food restaurant over the weekend.

“He had a good home,” Hyatt said of the replica of the Nickelodeon character who is starring in his first full-length, animated feature film.

And despite rumors that SpongeBob’s loyalties lie with The Krusty Krab restaurant, where he’s employed in the cartoon, Hyatt said he’s really a die-hard Burger King fan.

“He really liked our food,” she said.

The kidnapped SpongeBob, in place to promote toys in the fast-food chain’s kid’s meals, has also left a hole in the hearts of children who no longer have the benefit of seeing their absorbent friend atop the building, Hyatt said. Even adult customers have called to ask where SpongeBob has gone, she said.

SpongeBob stood on the roof of Burger King for less than two weeks when he was stolen sometime between midnight and 5:30 a.m. Saturday. He wasn’t set to descend from the roof until Christmas Eve, Hyatt said.

“Then we could have found a new home for him,” she said.

SpongeBob blow-ups were taken from three Burger Kings across the state.

In one instance, the spongenappers left a ransom note asking for “krabby patties.” That SpongeBob has since been returned.

Hyatt said she hopes that her SpongeBob will also make his way back home, and asked that anyone who knows where he might be to call the Burger King at 724-628-6601.

“Please, bring SpongeBob home,” she said.