700-pound Bronze Pelican Statue in California Stolen

Novato, Calif., police are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the identification of whoever was responsible for the theft of a 700-pound bronze pelican statue from a city park.

The nine-foot tall sculpture named “Omay,” the Miwok word for “pelican,” was taken from Scottsdale Pond park sometime last week.

Novato police say the thief or thieves may have thought the sculpture was made of valuable copper.

It was commissioned by the city in 2007 for $27,500. Pam Shinault, the city’s director of parks, recreation and community services, said the sculpture was so well secured it must have required power tools to remove.

She says it’s not clear if the money can be found to replace it.