Family seeks public's help to locate its missing moose
BY DICK METZGAR
Staff Writer

A reward is being offered for the return of a moose statue that holds up a mailbox at this home on Halls Mill Road, Freehold Township.

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - The owners of a moose that was "rustled" from its resting place at a Halls Mill Road residence would very much like to have their "pet" returned home.

The moose statue, which is estimated to weigh several hundred pounds, was last seen anchoring a mailbox that belongs to Janise and John Fallon. The Fallons are part-owners of the Court Jester restaurant and bar, Freehold Borough.

The moose and the mailbox were secured to a concrete base in the ground when the burly animal was stolen sometime during the early morning hours of Aug. 5, John Fallon said.

Janise Fallon said she was home at the time the moose was stolen, but heard nothing as the statue was being unbolted from its resting place and carted off.

She said the moose is of tremendous sentimental value to her and fervently wishes it will find its way back to its old resting place - so much so that she is offering $300 for its return.

"That moose means a great deal to me," Fallon said. "It was a gift from our children a number of years ago and I feel very sentimental about it, almost as much as I would about a real live pet."

The reward poster reads: $300 Reward. Have You Seen Me? An accompanying note states: "I was stolen from my home on Saturday, August 5. Many of you have seen me on your way to or from work. I was holding a mailbox. My owners love me very much for sentimental reasons. They are offering this reward to the very kind person who helps to bring me home. Please help find me. I miss my family. Please call (732) 462-2283. All calls confidential - no questions asked."

This is not the first time the Fallon residence on Halls Mill Road near Route 524 (Elton-Adelphia Road) has been targeted. Sometime between 10 a.m. July 10 and 2 p.m. July 12, 2004, the home was burglarized and family jewelry was stolen, according to Janise Fallon.

The value of the jewelry was estimated at $6,150, according a report filed by the Freehold Township Police Department. The jewelry had sentimental value because it had been in the family for many years, Janise Fallon said. None of the jewelry has ever been recovered, she said.

In his report on the crime, Freehold Township Police Officer Stephen D'Antonio noted, "On this date (July 12), I responded to the incident location where the victim (John Fallon) reports that the house had been broken into and some property removed. I arrived at the house, a wood-grain colored log cabin with a decorative moose mailbox, and was met by the victim. He advised that he and his family had just returned from a trip to Long Island. He pointed out the damage to a window in a small entrance room in the back of the house. The room is positioned between the garage and the kitchen. A pane of glass was broken, which was apparently used to gain access to the window lock."