New Year's Eve Ball Drops Out of Sight

It may be the first official crime of 2012 in Bradenton. If not, it certainly is the most brazen crime of the New Year. 

The translucent pink 2012 fiberglass ball that was dropped from a crane in downtown Bradenton Saturday at midnight to mark the New Year was stolen about an hour later.

The 4-foot tall ball, painted pink and embossed with two Breast Cancer Awareness ribbons and raised numbers for 2012, was put into a pickup truck behind the county Administration Building, after it was lowered by crane, according to a report filed with the Bradenton Police Department.

As people celebrated 2012, a witness told Bradenton Police that he saw a woman load the ball into the back of another pickup. None of the police officers who were downtown patrolling the party saw the woman drive off with the ball, but the witness was able to get the license plate number.

"Everyone was shocked and surprised," said James "Cork" Miller, a member of the Downtown Development Authority and a downtown business owner who said he commissioned to have the ball made for the event.

"Who knows why anyone would want it?"

Miller, who owns Cork's downtown, said Thursday that Kona Canoe and Kayak made the ball. Its value is estimated at $10,000, in the police report.

Miller said he was not comfortable commenting on the ongoing investigation, so he declined to provide any other details.

After the witness reported the theft, a Bradenton police officer contaced the Manatee County Sheriff's Office to check the address registered to the owner of the pickup truck that allegedly drove off with the giant pink ball.

When the sheriff's deputy knocked at the door, a person opened the door and then immediately closed it, according to a report from the Bradenton Police Department.

The investigation continues.