A 33-year-old man is in custody for the alleged theft of “Garry the Gorilla,” a popular statue that brightened up a retirement home in Melbourne’s outer northeast.
The giant silverback disappeared from the village of St. Helena on June 6.
Police located Garry on Monday following a search warrant at an address in Reservoir.
“After extensive reporting on Garry’s return to the nursing home on Wednesday, a 33-year-old man from Heidelberg Heights contacted police,” the statement said Friday.
“He was questioned this morning by appointment and subsequently charged with theft, receiving stolen goods and driving while prohibited.”
Robin, a resident of the village, said she and everyone at the nursing home were “very excited” to have Garry back.
“We are all very excited,” she said.
“We were shocked that he was gone for so long. Why weren’t there millions of police officers out there looking for him… but whatever, he’s back and that’s all that matters now.”
Garry sits in front of the village.
“He can’t be missing,” she said.
To find Garry, police deployed aerial surveillance resources.
The man is free on bail and will appear before the Heidelberg District Court on August 30.
Photos from the mission show Garry hunched over in a residential backyard.
In addition to Garry, investigators also seized 24 suspected stolen driver’s licenses and a quantity of prescription drugs during the search.