The Klement's Racing Italian Sausage went barhopping in Cedarburg recently, delighting patrons and posing for photos. The only problem: No one can say who was wearing the $3,000 costume, which had just been stolen from the city's Winter Festival.
The 7-foot-long weenie was lying unused in a backroom at the Milwaukee Curling Club's new Cedarburg location during a fundraiser on Feb. 16 with beer-tasting and curling, and a witness saw the sausage walk out of the south door about 7:45 p.m., Cedarburg police Detective Jeff Vahsholtz said Wednesday. The Italian walked into TJ Ryan's in Cedarburg an hour later and also made an appearance around midnight at The Roadhouse Bar and Grill.
Vahsholtz said police were still interviewing bar patrons and looking for the costume, which is owned by the Milwaukee-based sausage company Klement's.
"We thought it was funny at the time," Vahsholtz said. "Now we're just hoping someone returns it."
Vahsholtz said he couldn't say whether there would be charges for what seems to be an elaborate prank.
The Racing Sausages, including the Bratwurst, the Polish Sausage, the Hot Dog and the Chorizo, are a popular sight at Brewer's games and recently appeared at spring training. The costumes are available for rent.
A spokesperson from Klement's didn't immediately return a phone call.
Mustard Girl All American Mustards has offered a year's supply of mustard to anyone who returns the Italian Sausage costume.
Jennifer Connor, president of the Pleasant Prairie-based company, said the links can't race without the Italian Sausage.
"I'm a super big fan, and I like to give them big squeezes all the time," Connor said. "We have to keep our Sausage Racers whole."
Whoever finds the costume will receive a case of mustard a month. A case has 12 bottles. The mustards are all-natural and gluten-free and come in five different flavors: Sweet 'n' Fancy Yellow, Stone Ground Deli, Zesty Horseradish, Sweet 'n' Spicy Honey, and American Dijon.
