Police Want to Reunite 75 Stolen Gnomes With their Owners

Springfield Police say a lot of calls are coming in. She told Salem-News.com that a few have already been claimed by their owners.

Photos courtesy: Springfield Police

(SPRINGFIELD, Ore.) - Springfield, Oregon Police are investigating the theft of 75 yard gnomes that disappeared from all over the city's neighborhoods, and ended up in a family's yard.

Frogs, turtles, ducks, rabbits and all sorts of creatures comprise this gathering of ornamental yard ornaments. As they are now inhabiting the police department, Captain Richard Harrison with Springfield Police and his detectives says they are exploring ways to get these ornaments back to their homes.

It happened in the Thurston area of Springfield. A resident called police October 17th to report that someone had placed numerous lawn ornaments in the yard of a residence sometime the previous evening.

Story continues below

Harrison says a Community Service officer responded to the location and found the 75 lawn ornaments placed in an orderly manner on and around the front lawn.

"These lawn ornaments were primarily animal and gnome type figurines and were likely taken from other residences at various times," said Harrison.

Story continues below

Tiffany Monroe at Springfield Police says a lot of calls are coming in. She told Salem-News.com that a few have already been claimed by their owners.

"We have been able to return some to homes, some of the more unique ones have been picked up. They're the ones somebody can identify by describing a chip in a certain place or something along those lines."

The images of some of the recovered ornaments are published here as well as on the police Website, Springfield Police Website.

She says those who recognize their property, and who have filled out a theft report prior to this viewing, can contact the Springfield Police proty control at (541) 726-3645 on Tuesday, November 6th between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM to arrange for return of their property.