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Mamma Mia’s and the Case of the Missing Spoon

Although Homecoming weekend ended in a monumental win for Penn State football, it also brought about an unexpected loss for local pizza restaurant Mamma Mia’s. Late Saturday night, the spoon from Mamma Mia’s giant silverware collection was stolen.

Mamma Mia’s first sent out word via Twitter, urging Penn Staters to be on the look out for the missing spoon.

I first spoke with Katrina De Guzman, an employee at Mamma Mia’s, who told me that they finally had a break in the case — video footage of the crime. Apparently the spoon-napping took place around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, when the thieves snuck the spoon under their table and then out the door.

“The spoon is actually pretty valuable,” said De Guzman, noting the retail value of about $130.

However, the spoon is priceless in terms of sentimental value, according to Massimo Napoli, co-owner and pizza chef at Mamma Mia’s.

“My mother gave me that spoon when we first opened. I rather they take the pizza! My mamma’s going to be so angry when she find’s out we lost the spoon!” Napoli said.

So the spoon wasn’t just any giant spoon, but the giant spoon of Mamma Mia herself?! The plot thickens.

Carla Panetta, the other owner of Mamma Mia’s, told me about her disappointment when she learned that Penn State students were allegedly behind the theft.

“I was hoping that the people who did this were just some Michigan fans who were upset by their loss on Homecoming,” Panetta said.

Unfortunately that didn’t seem to be the case.

“Our spoon was seen all around downtown State College the weekend of October 12-13 and last seen at a house party on Atherton Street,” Panetta said. “I’ve heard from a few people in the past few days that they think they know who did this, but I was never given a name.”

But that wasn’t why the stolen spoon caused such a stir in the restaurant.

“When we first realized that someone stole our Giant Spoon, I was both sad and disappointed. This Giant Silverware Set had been in my family for years and had been given to me as a gift from my mother when we first opened Mamma Mia’s in 2009.” Panetta said.

Napoli and Panetta were kind enough to give me my own copy of the security footage to further my own investigation. The video is attached below, along with my notes.


Investigation Notes:

0:00:52 The perpetrators (two males, one female) sit down at the far left hand table, male 1 leaves shortly after.

0:00:58 Female gestures in direction of giant spoon on wall.

0:01:00 Female leaves table and goes outside.

0:01:09 Male 2 looks visibly nervous, wipes brow.

0:01:21 Female perp reenters pizza parlor.

0:01:38 Male 1 reenters pizza parlor.

0:01:57 Male 2 leaves table (presumably to get the pizza order).

0:02:10 Male 2 returns with sandwiches (not delicious pizza).

0:02:32 Male 1 jumps up and animatedly waves to someone outside of window.

0:03:28 Male 1 reaches out of frame and returns to frame with GIANT SPOON.

0:03:29 Male 1 hands female perp GIANT SPOON under table, female perp rests GIANT SPOON on her lap where it remains for the entirety of the meal.

0:04:25 Perps get up to leave, female perp still carrying GIANT SPOON.

0:04:26 Perps exit Mamma Mias with GIANT SPOON. Heartless.

Unfortunately, the suspects are still at large, but you can help find them! The kind people at Mamma Mia’s are even offering up a monetary and food reward for anyone that comes forward with information about the spoon-nappers. So dust off your CSI glasses and keep your eyes peeled, Penn State!

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About the Author

Catie Simpson

Catie is a junior majoring in Human Development and Family Studies. She's also the resident townie and culinary enthusiast due to a brief stint at the CIA (the culinary school not the secret government agency). She currently works at a Baby Temperament Lab on campus where she tries to get babies to do dangerous things. She's also on the twitter.

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