Community Supports Group Affected by Rubber Duck Theft

Local businesses are supporting the Yorkville Citizens Police Academy Alumni after two 16-year-old boys were referred to juvenile court for allegedly stealing 2,500 rubber ducks used for the organization’s biggest fundraiser.

 and Sugar Shack Bakery each donated $500, while Kendall Pub is selling yellow T-shirts to raise additional donations, alumni president Lisa Schillinger said. Sugar Shack Bakery is a new business scheduled to open in May at Route 47 and Van Emmon Road, Schillinger said.

The T-shirts say “What the” with a graphic of a duck. They are available at Kendall Pub for $6 each or two for $10, with $1 from each purchase going to the association. They received 500 T-shirts Wednesday night in sizes large and extra-large, Kendall Pub bartender Beth Kirk said early Thursday afternoon.

“I’ve sold five, so we have 495,” Kirk said, laughing.

The apparent mass duck-napping has produced a few laughs – and much media attention – since it was discovered last week.

The rubber ducks were taken from their storage area behind the former post office building in the 200 block of West Hydraulic Street.

 The Yorkville Citizens Police Academy Alumni use them for a "Duck Pluck" fundraiser at Hometown Days over Labor Day weekend. Numbered ducks are chosen at random and the people who bought tickets corresponding to the chosen numbers receive prizes donated by area businesses.

As far as the criminal investigation, Yorkville Police have referred two 16-year-old boys to the state’s attorney’s office suggesting misdemeanor theft charges, Deputy Chief Larry Hilt said.

Prosecutors will make the final decision about whether to pursue a misdemeanor or felony case, or allow the kids to participate in a deferral program, Hilt said. Since they are juveniles, any convictions will not be part of their public, adult criminal records.

Hilt said he did not expect the police would refer any more juveniles in the case.

About 650 of the missing ducks have been recovered. Last week city employees fished some of the rubber ducks from a local pond. Other rubber ducks were found scattered along roadways from Oswego to Sandwich.

A couple ended up in a veterinarian’s office, Schillinger said.

“The Sandwich vet called and said they had two of them,” Schillinger said. “They were giving them a check-up.”

Many of the 650 recovered ducks passed inspection, while others were “decorated” or otherwise unusable. Schillinger said they could cost about 95 cents each to replace, although the price per rubber duck is cheaper with larger orders.

“We’ve also found our bins are broken, so we’re going to have to replace some of the totes,” Schillinger said.

Meanwhile, Yorkville Citizens Police Academy Alumni members are pressing forward with plans for this year’s Duck Pluck. They are soliciting prizes from area businesses and businesses that donate a prize worth $100 or more will be listed on the tickets. They expect to order the tickets in mid-June and start selling them about the Fourth of July.

Anyone interested in donating toward the Duck Pluck or the duck replacement cost should contact the Yorkville Police Department at 630-553-4340 for more information. Checks also may be written to “Yorkville Duck Race” and mailed to the police department at 804 Game Farm Road, Yorkville, IL 60560.