Police in the mountains north of Santa Cruz responded to a report of a suspicious figure in the roadway early Thursday and found Bigfoot.
Well, a sought-after Bigfoot statue, that is.
The Scotts Valley Police Department said in a post to Facebook the figure "was a little banged up but will be returned to its rightful place at the Bigfoot Discovery Museum." It had been missing since Monday, when the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office said it was stolen from outside the tiny museum some time between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
It was found near Glen Canyon Rd. and Green Hills Rd. in Scotts Valley, about five miles from the museum. Officials had urged people to keep their eyes peeled for the four-foot-tall statue. It's estimated to weigh as much as 200 pounds.
A large wooden bear statue was also stolen around the same time.
It's not clear how the thieves took the heavy statues to begin with.
The museum, located in Felton outside Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, is dedicated to the elusive, mythical forest creature. It is currently closed due to the county's COVID-19 restrictions.