German Kermit Cons Woman Out Of Electric Bike

The next time someone openly admits to providing the voice of a Muppet, your best bet is narrow your eyes in disbelief and take their boasts with a grain of salt. Otherwise, you might find yourself being hoodwinked by Kermit the Frog. According to The Local, a website which provides German news in English, a shop owner was hustled by someone who claimed to be the voice of the popular pig-loving Muppet.

Police are still on the hunt for a man who calls himself “Herr Schröder,” an individual who entered a specialist electric bike shop in Cologne towards the end of May. During his exchange with 46-year-old shopkeeper Claudia Liebe, the gentleman identified himself as the guy who provides the German voice for Kermit the Frog. That’s not something you hear everyday.

After making this unusual declaration, “Herr Schröder” explained to the woman that he was organizing bike tours for the blind. As such, he was looking to spend some of the donations on a few of the shop’s electric products. According to the con artist, the purchase would be captured on camera for state broadcaster WDR.

Eager to assist the man with his selfless mission, Liebe agreed to help. After all, it would be great promotion for the shop, not to mention a good way to give back to those in need. In order to help the gentleman collect the donations from the bank, the shopkeeper allowed the German Kermit to use one of the store’s more expensive motorized bikes. Not surprisingly, the man never returned.

“He seemed totally serious, and very charming,” Liebe explained to the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. “He really loved the bike. And I was so naïve that I offered to let him ride it to the bank.”

Although Kermit the Frog was never seen again, Liebe was able to collect her stolen property. The Local reports that the electric bike showed up at a horse riding school in a different section of the city.