DAY 12: LET'S GO KROGERING!

Let’s Go Krogering!

But not in the cereal aisle!

This picture I snapped of a young lady shopping at Kroger reminds me of something I hadn’t thought of in awhile.

A few years ago, area stores were baffled by what was happening in their cereal aisles. Every day all over town, grocers were discovering open boxes of cereal on their shelves.  Nothing was stolen – but certain boxes were being regularly tampered with and no one could figure out what was going on.  

The mystery deepened when the same thing began happening in neighboring communities – Campbellsville Wal-Mart….Bardstown Wal-Mart…all the groceries in surrounding counties… were experiencing an inexplicable rash of cereal box tampering. Baffling!

It became obvious to law enforcement that the phenomenon was so widespread it had risen to the level of a “serial crime” (pun intended).

The public record reflects details of what I affectionately call “The Bobble-Head Case”.

Bobble-Heads were toys offered back then as prizes in boxes of cereal, with the aim of promoting brisk sales of the product. It was a great promotion, and sales WERE brisk!  The more avid collectors bought lots and lots of cereal in their insatiable quest to obtain the most rare and sought-after Bobble-Heads.

The VERY most avid collectors were a sweet young couple of friends who’d bought all the cereal they could possibly afford and more than they could ever consume in a year --- but, alas --- all they kept getting over and over were duplicate Bobble Heads. One can imagine their dismay after buying boxes and boxes of cereal only to be met with such disappointment every time. : (

With their Bobble-Head frenzy in high gear and their bank account nearly depleted, the desperate couple formulated an ingenious plan: they would surreptitiously open the boxes at the stores, furtively examine the contents, and save themselves the agony of any further disappointing purchases. If the box did not contain the sought-after prize, back on the shelf it went. Nothing was stolen, and they were not further “ripped off” in their search for the illusive Bobble-Heads so desperately needed to finally complete their collection.

They may never have been discovered had it not been for a competing (and jealous) Bobble-Head collector who tipped the police off about a certain kitchen in her neighborhood that had every cupboard and kitchen counter brimming with cereal boxes. That was exactly the “lead” local law enforcement needed to solve the mystery.

I’m sure the young couple of friends learned valuable lessons from their Bobble-Head experience. I never knew whether they were ever able to complete their collection after law enforcement became involved. But I sure hope they did! To me, it was the sweetest “crime” ever committed here. It was like something straight out of Mayberry.

___

More Kroger Pictures....

___

 Mary Ann Peake...some will remember her as a greeter at Wal-Mart. I remember her best from when she was our neighbor in Loretto. I could not get over how cute she looked this day shopping. Love the hat!

Mr. Charles Brady...a great shopper! He was so good with coupons that he could get to the checkout counter and they'd almost have to pay HIM! haha

One of my daughter's numerous after school jobs was her stint at Kroger. She is shown here, checking out customers. She and one of her workers almost got into trouble because they laughed so much!

I would love to know the identity of this sweet little girl with her kitten. It was the cutest thing to see her standing up through the sun roof of the car with her kitty, presumably waiting for mom to get finished shopping...

And here is a closer look at the little girl and her cat....if anyone knows who she is - please email me! Precious.