Westport’s Runaway Jon Bon Jovi Cutout Prompts Plea From Lees Market

In a bizarre twist that could have come straight out of an ’80s rock ballad, a life-sized cardboard cutout of Jon Bon Jovi and his son Jesse Bongiovi went missing from Lees Market in Westport.

The display, which had been promoting the duo's Hampton Water wine, was too irresistible for a pair of unidentified fans who decided to make off with it in broad daylight on Tuesday, September 10.

They give customers a bad name.

Matt Ponte, communications manager at Lees, recounted the unusual incident with a mix of bewilderment and humor.

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“We had the cutout in place for the duration of the display, and suddenly it was gone," he said. "We checked the surveillance footage and saw a couple of people just come in, grab it, and walk out the door with it.”

The daring heist, reminiscent of a similar incident a few years ago when a David Hasselhoff cutout was stolen from a Cumberland Farms in New Bedford, has sparked speculation that the culprits might be diehard fans still stuck in the glory days of the ’80s.

“Obviously, this is somebody who still has a crush on David Hasselhoff and Jon Bon Jovi,” Ponte said. “It’s not exactly something you can fit in your purse, and they could barely get it into the convertible they drove off in.”

Now, they're Wanted Dead Or Alive.

OK, that's a bit dramatic.

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Ponte said Lees isn’t looking to press charges or track down the perpetrators. Instead, the market shared the story on social media, hoping the rockstar kidnappers might be inspired to return the cutout.

“We’re not trying to make a federal case out of this,” Ponte said. “It was such a bizarre situation that we had to showcase it. Maybe they’ll feel compelled to bring it back.”

Lees Market’s Facebook post about the incident was laced with Bon Jovi lyrics, expressing both amusement and hope for the cutout’s safe return.

“Jon and Jesse Bon Jovi got to spend all summer with us in Westport, but apparently they took off with some admirers ... though we wanted to ‘never say goodbye.' That's right, they went down in a ‘blaze of glory,' right out the door.”

It’s unclear if the culprits will return Jon and Jesse.

Until then, the business is Livin' On a Prayer.