Police hunt for banana bandit

FOND DU LAC - Has Fond du Lac gone bananas?

"I laughed a little bit, I looked at our camera and watched it, had a few more laughs and I just let everyone know, hey, we have a gorilla on the loose," Kwik Trip Manager Marissa Erber said.

Call it unbelievable, but Fond du Lac police officers say they are indeed on the hunt for banana bandit, who first appeared Wednesday at a convenience store.

"Somebody dressed in a gorilla suit had entered the store and was apparently trying to take a large banana that they had as part of a banana display in the store," police Capt. Steve Klein said.

Klein says the costumed individual tried to steal the banana from the Kwik Trip on Park Avenue around 12:30am Wednesday, then moved on to another Kwik Trip on Johnson Street and attempted the same crime.

Employees say the the gorilla was after a $50 styrofoam banana. But, manager Marissa Erber says her Park Street store wasn't ready to give up its prize.

An employee tried to unmask the ape, and discovered the gorilla was a woman, but police still haven't ruled anyone out.

"She tried to grab it and leave the store with it, but the third shift worker kind of convinced her to lay it on the floor and she ran out," Erber said.

But police say the banana beckoned. Wednesday night the gorilla was caught on tape, returning for a third, more fruitful try.

"The person walked in with the gorilla suit, yanked the banana down from the display and went out the front door," Klein said.

Though funny on the surface, police say masks and costumes in a convenience store are always a concern.

"You don't know what that person's intention is, what are they going to do, why are they there," Klein said.

Or, if they'll be back. So, the Park Street store is planning to lay the banana bait.

"We're going to hang it up again tomorrow, see what happens," Erber said.

It's open season on gorilla.