Arrest made in hot dog’s abduction

From staff reports
Published: May 9, 2008

A Charlottesville man has been arrested in connection with the theft of a beloved hot dog mascot.

Jeremy Strain, 23, was charged Friday with grand larceny and felony destruction of property.

Albemarle police Lt. Todd Hopwood said authorities are looking for David Dudley, a 21-year-old city man for whom police have an arrest warrant.

Harry the Hot Dog disappeared April 9 from All Good Groceries. The statue, which is 6 feet and 200 pounds of fiberglass and steel, was missing for 27 days before police received an anonymous tip on his whereabouts.

Authorities dug up the hot dog near the Cedar Hill Mobile Home Park, where they discovered he had lost his arms, a shoelace and his bottles of ketchup and mustard, with which he was slathering himself so he could appear more delicious.

The statue is valued at about $2,000. Details of what happened to the hot dog while he was missing were not immediately available.