An 8ft gorilla is roaming the area after thieves stole the much-loved statue from Reynard Nursery in Carluke, Lanarkshire on Monday evening.
The incident was caught on CCTV as the statue, named Gary, was unbolted from the ground and placed in a white van which sped from the scene around midnight on Monday, March 20.
Owner Andrew Scott, 56, has been left baffled by the sudden disappearance of the 8ft statue, reports Daily Record.
Andrew told the Record: "The CCTV pictures are very grainy but a white van pulls up and several people get out. Gary was bolted down to decking so it looks like they unbolted him and carefully placed him in the van. I would say it was planned.
"When we looked back on the CCTV, an unknown car pulled up at around 10:30pm. It wasn't a car we recognised so I'd say it was connected."
Staff were shocked when they arrived at work this morning to see Gary had gone awol from his usual place, having previously been situated inside the centre.
He continued: "I actually arrived and didn't notice he was gone. It wasn't until my son pointed out to me that he wasn't there that I realised someone must have taken him. We couldn't believe it."
Gary the Gorilla has become a huge part of the family-run business for the last decade. He is known to sit at the entrance to the garden centre to welcome customers every day.
Staff members regularly dress him up in line with what's going on in the world. Gary wore his PPE throughout the pandemic, is known to don a Santa hat at Christmas and also recently "suffered with monkeypox", being donned in big red dots.
Andrew, who paid £3,000 for Gary 10 years ago, added: "We have no idea why anyone would have taken him. He's sat at the entrance to our nursery for the last eight years and has never been bothered. I don't understand it to be honest.
"He's just a bit of fun and has been used as a gimmick for our business for the last 10 years."
"I mean what are they going to do with him? He's huge and old and not very discreet."
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Around 8.35am on Monday, 20 March, we received a report of the theft of an 8ft fiberglass gorilla from outside a premises on Mauldslie Road, Carluke.
“Enquiries are ongoing to trace those responsible. Anyone with information should call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0588 of Monday, 20 March, 2023.”
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