Teens Steal Beloved Chocolate Shop Mascot During 'Takeover' Incident

Iconic 'Truffles' bear recovered by police after brief kidnapping on CTA Red Line

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:23am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a plush chocolate-brown bear mascot strapped tightly to a chair, the harsh lighting and dramatic shadows creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic that conceptually illustrates the recent theft of this beloved community icon.The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory's iconic mascot 'Truffles' is now secured with extra precautions after a recent teen theft incident in downtown Chicago.Chicago Today

In a bizarre incident, the beloved 40-year-old mascot 'Truffles' of a Chicago chocolate shop was briefly stolen by two teens during a 'teen takeover' in the city's downtown Loop area. The teens snatched the Truffles mascot from the new Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory store, took him on a ride on the CTA Red Line, and were later arrested by police.

Why it matters

The theft of the iconic Truffles mascot highlights the disruptive and dangerous nature of the recent 'teen takeover' incidents that have been occurring in Chicago's downtown areas, where groups of teens have been causing chaos, damaging property, and putting public safety at risk.

The details

According to the store's owner Tyson Minnick, a group of teens ran into the new Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory location on Friday night and grabbed the Truffles mascot, taking him on a ride on the CTA Red Line. Chicago police were able to recover the bear, finding him taking up the entire front seat of a squad car. Minnick said the store will now keep Truffles strapped down to prevent any future thefts.

  • On Friday night, April 4, 2026, a group of teens stole the Truffles mascot from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory store.
  • The teens took Truffles on a ride on the CTA Red Line.
  • Chicago police recovered Truffles less than an hour after he was stolen.

The players

Truffles

The 40-year-old mascot of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory stores.

Tyson Minnick

The owner of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory store in Chicago's Loop where the Truffles mascot was stolen.

Chicago Police

The law enforcement agency that recovered the stolen Truffles mascot.

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What they’re saying

“A couple guys jumped in, saw them outside, grabbed our bear, 'Truffles,' and took him for a ride.”

— Tyson Minnick, Store Owner

“It was alarming not gonna lie, to have a couple people jump in. Five to six customers in the store.”

— Tyson Minnick, Store Owner

“He is strapped down. Now if they take 'Truffles,' they'll have to take the chair.”

— Tyson Minnick, Store Owner

What’s next

The two teens who allegedly stole Truffles, a 15-year-old and an 18-year-old, were arrested and cited for felony theft and trespassing. They are expected to face charges in court.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the growing problem of 'teen takeover' events in Chicago's downtown areas, where groups of teens are causing disruption, property damage, and public safety concerns. Businesses like the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory are now having to take extra precautions to protect their property and mascots.