Police Say Wishing Well Stolen From Penn Central Mall

Wishing Well device that was located inside Penn Central Mall and belongs to Oskaloosa Community Foundation.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – A fixture at Penn Central Mall for decades was the yellow wishing well that many persons dropped coins into and watched as they circled around until eventually dropping down into the center.

Oskaloosa Police say the device was taken by Patrick Marcell Radtke on Friday December 4th, 2015. This was the same night that the Festival of Trees was being held at the mall.

According to the affidavit by Oskaloosa Police Officer David Wilke, “At approximately 7:40pm Patrick Radthke could be observed on surveillance video loading up a Wishing Well on to a cart and leaving the mall.”

Radthke was stopped by Mahaska County Deputy Sanders at approximately 8:48pm later that evening, “and we located part of the well sitting in the back seat. We were able to retrieve the rest of the well from the vehicle at approximately 11:30 that night.”

Radthke is being charged with Theft in the Second Degree, “by taking property belonging to Oskaloosa Community Foundation, with the intent to deprive the owner of the property.”

The property is said to have a value exceeding $1,000.00.

A criminal charge is merely a criminal charge and not an indication of guilt. All suspects should be considered innocent until proven guilty.