Revealed: Most bizarre items stolen in Victoria in 2024

Victoria’s thieves have stolen some truly bizarre items this year. From gorilla statues to live reptiles to McDonalds merchandise, here is a list of all the strangest stolen items this year.

From a 25kg bald eagle statue to $30,000 worth of live reptiles, light-fingered Victorians have chosen to nab some plain bizarre items this year.

Thieves have been keeping investigators on their toes to find the beloved missing items.

The search for the thieves and the missing goods was even taken to the air with a police helicopter joining the search for a retirement home’s stolen gorilla statue.

Here are some of the strangest thefts of 2024.

Garry the gorilla

The search and rescue mission of a 1.5m gorilla statue, named Garry, was documented from start to finish.

The St Helena community in Melbourne’s northeast reported the theft to police and made public pleas for the return of Garry.

Garry’s theft was reported to police by retirement home residents. Picture: Victoria Police.

Following extensive inquiries into Garry’s disappearance, police homed in on a Reservoir property before calling in the Air Wing to conduct a fly over of the residence.

Police confirmed the “pilots went absolutely bananas” when they spotted Garry the gorilla perched between two garages.

Garry was spotted by a police Air Wing. Picture: Victoria Police.

In court, the primate poacher was revealed to be 33-year-old Matthew Newbould who pinched the silverback after pick-up up some furniture from the retirement home.

He pleaded guilty to the theft.

25kg Fibreglass bald eagle statue

Animal statues seemed to be a common target in 2024.

A Melbourne couple who have turned their property into a local landmark with a fibreglass zoo full of giraffes, elephants and tigers are hunting a 25kg bald eagle stolen from their front yard.

In April, a brazen thief nabbed the eagle.

The eagle was stolen from the front yard. Picture: Supplied.

Owners Rhonda and George, who asked to not have their surname published, reported the theft to police at the time.

“I want them to give it back and get a life, it is a crime,” Rhonda said.

The eagle has not been returned.

Reptile burglar

Live animals were just as big of a target as statues of animals.

A 24-year-old Bendigo man was charged with burglary after he allegedly stole $30,000 worth of reptiles in an Easter smash and grab at a Bendigo reptile store.

A 24-year-old man was charged with burglary and theft following a break in and theft of about $30,000 worth of reptiles from Totally Reptiles Central Vic at Kangaroo Flat.

The man allegedly nabbed an estimated 50 reptiles, including snakes, bearded dragons, monitors and lizards.

Some were located and returned, others were not.

Stolen water meter chaos

Rather than animal targets, some thieves preferred to create mass chaos including one who nabbed a school’s water meter causing students to be sent home.

Saltwater P-9 College had to send students home after the theft. Picture: Ellen Smith

Parents were told to pick their kids up from Saltwater P-9 College, Point Cook, after its water meter was stolen leaving the school with no water.

In June, investigators believed the meter was stolen and dismantled to take the copper pipes.

Olympic glory

The quickest way to Olympic glory is to steal an athlete's medals, which is what a 47-year-old Windsor allegedly man did.

He was charged with theft after he allegedly stole four Olympic medals from rowing champion Drew Ginn’s car in September.

Drew Ginn's four Olympic medals were stolen.

The medals, including one silver and three gold, were hidden inside a sock in Mr Ginn’s black Land Rover when they were allegedly stolen on Cumberland St, Docklands.

Police believed the prized possessions, along with a wetsuit, headphones and a Go Pro camera, were allegedly taken between 9pm on September 6 and 5am on September 7.

After a public plea from Mr Ginn, a Windsor man was arrested and charged with theft.

Gippsland Grimace obsession

Multiple Grimace signs were stolen from McDonald’s restaurants around Gippsland.

The McDonalds mascot signs were stolen from stores in Sale and Lakes Entrance.

Offenders were spotted running away with the signs. Picture: Facebook/Brooke Downey

Offenders were caught on camera in broad daylight running away from the stores holding the promotional signage.

Stealing the Grimace sign became a TikTok trend with other McDonalds locations around the country losing their cardboard cutout mascot.