GUILDERLAND — A third "pignapping" in town has the police investigating and the pig’s owners baffled.

Al T. Mont, one of the fiberglass pig statues in a chamber-of-Commerce campaign, was purchased by Knightes Farm Equipment on Route 158. The pig was secured behind a locked gate and guarded by a German shepherd yet was missing early Tuesday morning.
"My husband purchased the pig and the proceeds were going to the Guilderland Interfaith Food Pantry," said Lisa Knightes. "We were going to bring the pig to the Altamont Fair, so we would like to have the pig back."

Al T. Mont was displayed over 100 yards from Route 158 and was stolen sometime either late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
"He was right up next to the building," said Knightes. "There’s a watchdog too, and the gate was locked up."
Al T. Mont is one of 28 fiberglass pigs around town purchased by businesses and organizations participating in the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce’s "Pigtacular" celebration.
"For goodness sake, the Knightes had theirs pretty secure," said Jane Schramm, executive director of the Chamber. "They obviously knew what they were doing and worked around those obstacles," she said of the thieves.

The artwork decorating Al T. Mont was created by over 350 Altamont Elementary School students with the help of their art teacher Trish Zigrosser.
The pig is described by its owners as being decorated with "abstract art," filled with multicolored butterflies, flowers, and bright stars.
"I absolutely have no clue as to who did this," said Schramm of the theft. "I just wish whoever is doing this would stop"Don’t people have better things to do with their time""

The first pig to be stolen was Bruce Pigsteen, taken from Town Center Plaza on July 20 and returned a day later. The second pig was Liberty, stolen from the Pine Bush Elementary School on July 29, and was found in the woods nearby a couple of days later.

Schramm told The Enterprise on Tuesday that she has spoken with many of the business owners who purchased the fiberglass pigs and has advised them to take preventative measures by properly securing their pigs.
The pigs originally cost $500 each, and now decorated, are expected to be auctioned off in the Chambers "Hogtoberfest" this fall, where the Knightes were hoping to raise some money for the Interfaith Food Pantry.

Anybody with any information regarding Al T. Mont’s disappearance is being asked to contact either the Guilderland Police, The Guilderland Chamber of Commerce, or the Knightes at 452-4317.
"We’re really hoping to get the pig back," said Knightes. "It’s really kind of disappointing."