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AAP
AAP
Callum Godde

Garry the gorilla's alleged thief turns himself in

Gorilla statue 'Garry' has been returned to a retirement village and a man charged with theft. (HANDOUT/VICTORIA POLICE)

Charges have been laid over the alleged theft of a gorilla statue from a retirement village in Melbourne's north.

The gorilla, a 1.5 metre garden ornament named 'Garry', disappeared from Leith Park retirement village at St Helena on June 6.

Police alleged Garry was taken off his perch of tree stumps, loaded onto a vehicle and driven away, which they said had left residents devastated.

The statue was returned on Wednesday afternoon after the police air wing spotted it in the yard of a Reservoir property, about 20 minutes' drive away.

Police photo of Garry the gorilla statue seen in a back yard
Gorilla statue Garry was spotted by the police air wing in a back yard after allegedly being stolen. (HANDOUT/VICTORIA POLICE)

First Constable Anju Vashisht acknowledged it was a strange case and could not explain why anyone would steal the community mascot.

"That's the million dollar question, isn't it," she told reporters on Wednesday.

Officers raided the home on Monday, seizing Garry along with 24 suspected stolen drivers' licences and prescription medication.

A 33-year-old Heidelberg Heights man made himself known to police following significant news coverage of Garry's return home.

Police interviewed the man on Friday morning and charged him with theft, handling stolen goods and driving while disqualified. 

He has been released on bail and will face Heidelberg Magistrates Court on August 30.

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