A prehistoric-themed liquor store in Langford has been reunited with its stolen raptor mascot after a two-month absence, thanks to an anonymous tip and swift action by local law enforcement.
The West Shore RCMP successfully recovered the replica dinosaur, which had been taken from outside Liquor Planet on Millstream Road, British Columbia's largest privately-owned liquor retailer. The store, known for its extensive collection of prehistoric replicas, had not immediately noticed the theft of the chained outdoor display.
"We didn't realize it was missing until we received an anonymous phone call," said Wyatt Oickle, manager of Liquor Planet. The call came from someone claiming to know the whereabouts of the stolen dinosaur.
Store owner Ron Cheeke followed up on the tip, confirming the dinosaur's location before alerting the police. West Shore RCMP officers retrieved the mascot on Oct. 1, returning it to the grateful business.
The raptor, weighing approximately 100-pounds and mounted on wheels for easy movement, is just one of about 50 dinosaur-themed items adorning the unique liquor store.
"We bought it eight years ago for about $1,000," Oickle explained. "Technically, it's still worth that much, even though it's been sitting outside all this time."
Upon its return, staff noticed some unauthorized modifications to the dinosaur.
"The person who had it painted the claws and eyes solid red. It now looks a bit like the Joker," Oickle said. The store plans to restore the mascot to its original appearance before returning it to its outdoor post.
While the incident caused initial concern, it has since become a source of amusement for the store's staff and customers.
"It's turned into a funny story for our local liquor store," Oickle added.
The store is now reviewing its security measures for outdoor displays. This isn't the first time Liquor Planet has dealt with theft of its outdoor decorations; a large brass lion was previously stolen and later recovered.
Local authorities commended the public's assistance in solving the case.
"Thanks to a Dino-mite investigation and some helpful tips, our frontline officers were able to recover the Jurassic art and return it to the business," West Shore RCMP stated on their Facebook page.
As the store prepares to reinstall its wayward mascot, Oickle reflected on the ordeal: "We're just happy to have it back. We'll make sure to keep a closer eye on our prehistoric friends from now on."
