A bear-faced thief has made off with a Fife garage’s wooden beast.
Now the hunt is on for the robber who stole a hand-carved bear from the forecourt of the Bridgend petrol station near Freuchie on Boxing Day.
Abbie Houston, a manager at the station off the A92, has posted images taken from the business’s CCTV system in a bid to track down the bear snatcher.
“It was a kind customer who noticed something suspicious was going on and came back in to tell us.
“I am amazed there are still nicepeople in the world,” she said.
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But that doesn’t include the sneaky thief who is believed to have moved the bear from the front of the garage around to the side before heading in to buycoffee and cigarettes.
He then loaded the wooden statue, made locally by a log merchant, into the boot of his red Honda Civic and drove northwards towards Dundee.
Staff at the independently owned garage put the images online in a bid to name and shame the man who they said must have been daft to attempt the crime, given the number of CCTVcameras.
“We got the bears in December, just in time for Christmas, and cannot believe he had the audacity to do this,” said Abbie.
Now the petrol station’s remaining bear is pining for its pal as the hunt goes on for the grizzly thief.
“I don’t know how he is going to hide it, it’s quite tall and heavy,” addedAbbie.
Police in Fife are appealing forwitnesses after the carved wooden bear was cubnapped.
The police confirmed the thefttook place between 2.30 and 3pm lastSaturday.
Officers are now asking anyone who saw the incident or who has information that can help trace the suspect to get in touch.
The suspect is described asbeing white, in his 20s or 30s with black hair.He was wearing a bright red Adidas hooded top with the hood up.
Sergeant Leisa Metcalfe from Cupar police station said: “This ornamental bear was stolen in broad daylight and we are keen to trace the individual responsible so we can return it to its owners.”
Anyone with information can contact police via 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.