HOUSTON — A beloved Houston bakery had their Thanksgiving ruined by a thief. Arandas Bakery said someone stole the statue of their baker mascot from the Airline Drive location.
The statue had been in front of the bakery, known for its traditional Mexican pastries and desserts, since it opened some 30 years ago. It was placed there by founder Don Jose Camerena, an employee told us.
The statue is made out of stucco and isn't worth a lot.
"The monetary value isn’t much, but for us, it is a sentimental value," the employee said. "He means a lot to us since it was the first branding we had here at Arandas Bakery."
They're hoping it was just a prank and they've have been told the person who took it will bring it back sometime this week.
"He was given the opportunity to return the baker to us without having to involve the police. We respect that this individual is doing the right thing and for that reason, he has our word," Arandas said in a statement.
They haven't filed a police report yet but that could change if the statue doesn't turn up.
En Español
"Queremos dar las gracias a la comunidad de Houston por compartir estas publicaciones en sus redes sociales. El Panadero no tiene gran valor monetario pero para nosotros es un gran valor sentimental ya que fue puesto aquí por nuestro fundador el señor Don Jose Camarena, qepd. La Panadería Arandas lleva más de 30 años y el Panadero fue de las primeras señales que fueron puestas aquí como marcas de nuestra localidad. La persona que se llevó el Panadero ya nos lo regresa esta semana y esperamos que esta situación sea una lección de respetar a lo ajeno. Se le dio la oportunidad de regresarnos el Panadero sin tener que involucrar a la policía. Respetamos que este individuo esté haciendo lo correcto y por tal razón tiene nuestra palabra."
