Jen Reid, owner of Butternut Squash cafe in Portobello noticed her gnome – known as the nameless gnome - went missing from the business last Wednesday.
The next day she received a ransom note demanding cheesecake in exchange for the gnome’s safe return – it was clear he had been stolen.
The note, which has been shared by various international news outlets, read: “We have your gnome. If you want to see him again leave 2 cheesecakes when you shut the cafe. We will be watching.”
Despite putting out shortbread in an attempt to appease the gnomenapper, Jen received a second note which read: “Shortbread!!!!! We asked for cheesecake!!!!! You have 24 hours or your gnome gets dusty binned.”
The story has hit headlines all over the world including news channels in Texas, Ohio, Scotland, Spain and the pages of MSN and the New York Post.
"It’s been almost a week and there is still no sign of him,” Jen said, still sounding amused but also confused about the gnome’s disappearance.
"He’s definitely been taken, there’s no question, we just want him back.”
At first, Jen put out shortbread because she didn’t think the gnomenapper deserved her cafe’s popular £4.95-a-slice cheesecake.
But after receiving the second, more threatening message she gave in and left a slice outside the cafe on Sunday.
To her surprise, it was still there on Monday morning and, to this day, she has received no more communication from the gnomenapper.
Instead, random gnomes, including a naked one tied to a plant, have been appearing in her garden one by one over the last few days.
"I am not sure what is going on to be honest,” Jen said.
"People pass the cafe every day saying ‘is he back yet’ and I just have to keep saying no.
"There are also different gnomes that keep appearing outside the cafe which I imagine are from members of the public, but none of them are the one I am looking for.
“I’ve done my bit and put cheesecake out, but who knows if we’ll get our nameless gnome back.”
