A heartwarming tale of love and larceny unfolded on Valentine’s Day at the Chia tapas restaurant in Lymm, as a mysterious stranger swiped a massive heart-shaped balloon that had been displayed outside. The restaurant was abuzz with couples enjoying a romantic evening when the theft occurred, leaving owner Enrico Goksu both bemused and entertained by the audacious caper.
According to eyewitnesses, a man and a woman were spotted approaching the restaurant just before midnight, with the man casually untying the oversized balloon and sauntering off with it. Enrico, a 20-year-old restaurateur, was taken aback by the brazen act, especially considering the balloon’s size—it measured a whopping six feet in width. “It was a massive balloon, it was at least six feet wide,” Enrico shared with the Manchester Evening News. “The funny bit is that you stole something that’s so large, there’s no hiding it.”
After reviewing the CCTV footage and witnessing the balloon being tied to a barge that eventually sailed away, Enrico decided to embrace the whimsical nature of the incident. The restaurant took to the Love Lymm Facebook group with a light-hearted post, jokingly acknowledging the balloon’s new “owner” and playfully urging for a bit more courtesy in the future. The post quickly went viral, garnering over 20,000 views and sparking a wave of online hilarity.
The online community wasted no time in adding their own creative spin to the story, with memes and jokes circulating about the stolen heart-shaped balloon. Some likened the scene to a True Detective season, while others imagined police cars in pursuit of a getaway vehicle with a comically large balloon protruding from the window. Embracing the humor, Chia even offered a “reward” of 10,000 Vietnamese Dong (equivalent to around 31p) for the safe return of the missing balloon, further fueling the lighthearted banter.
Enrico, with his good-natured outlook, expressed no ill will towards the balloon bandit, acknowledging the widespread smiles and laughter the incident had generated. In the end, the unexpected theft of the oversized heart-shaped balloon served as a reminder of the power of whimsy and the ability of a simple act to unite a community in shared amusement. As the balloon continues its journey atop the barge, one thing is certain—it has indeed spread love wherever it goes, leaving behind a trail of laughter and joy in its wake.