A decades-old walrus penis bone that had become a quirky fixture at Donkey’s Place, a well-known cheesesteak spot in Camden, was stolen by a bar patron, according to the restaurant’s staff.
The item, considered a good luck charm by employees and regulars, was taken by a man who had reportedly been drinking for several hours with two others. Surveillance footage shows the suspect leaving the premises with the walrus penis bone in hand, shortly after the group asked to see it.
Owner Rob Lucas Jr. told nj.com that the thief struck while a staff member was briefly away. “We got his picture, but I don’t think he’s from around town,” Lucas said.
Donkey’s Place, once praised by the late Anthony Bourdain as home to the best cheesesteak in the area, has long displayed the walrus penis bone behind the bar alongside other oddities, including a megalodon tooth. The item frequently sparked conversation among patrons.
A bartender shared details of the incident on social media, posting a video showing the man believed to have taken the bone. “Let’s find the guy who stole Donkey’s you-know-what,” she said, adding that the bar just isn’t the same without it.
Despite the theft, Lucas said he does not wish to press charges as long as the walrus penis bone is returned. “We just want the thing back,” he said. “It’s been part of this place for years.”