Yet another dinosaur has been stolen from the National Dinosaur Museum – the third theft in seven years – and the raptor-nappers are still on the run. The difference this time, however, is that police haven’t been notified and the perpetrators are being given a chance to return the 1.5-metre raptor – no questions asked.
The 80kg raptor was stolen from the National Dinosaur Museum last month and the incident was caught on CCTV. The fibreglass dinosaur – worth $5,000 – was taken from the back of the building where it was awaiting repairs. General manager Carole Arulantu said she doesn’t want to press charges, “we just want Snappy back”.
“I walk the garden every morning to check the perimeter and I didn’t even notice him missing until recently,” Ms Arulantu said. “Unfortunately because of people like this we lose trust, we have to install more cameras. Now we’ve ramped up security, which I’m sad to do, I’d rather put trust in humans.”
The dinosaur had concrete on its base and it took two individuals to drag it out through a gap in a wire perimeter fence.
“it’s a bit sad because we’ve been re-painting the museum and refreshing our exhibits and Snappy was meant to go upstairs,” Ms Arulantu said. “He was going to be cleaned up and have his tail and arm repaired.”
The theft has been posted on the Museum’s Facebook page, asking for the perpetrators to do the right thing and return the dinosaur.
The Facebook post reads: We have surveillance footage of the perpetrators entering private property and are currently investigating the matter but in the meantime, we would like to give the culprits an opportunity to come forward voluntarily. In the case that this happens, we will not pursue the matter any further with authorities.
The museum is also asking the public to keep a lookout for the fibreglass dinosaur, which could be hidden in someone’s backyard. The 1.5m raptor model is identical to the one pictured (above).
“We’ve asked people to help locate it,” Ms Arulantu said. “We have to give people the opportunity to do the right thing. I really hope the person who took it grows a little bit of warmth in their heart and returns it.”
The $5,000 price tag to replace the dinosaur also comes with a hefty transportation fee for shipping from the United States. A new fence was only just installed at the front of the museum in 2022.
“The museum is owned by four directors and they do it because they’re passionate about it,” Ms Arulantu said. “With our museum it’s all about preservation, we want people to preserve the future the way we preserve the past. They’ve just taken a piece of the past.”
If you have any information message the National Dinosaur Museum on Facebook or email [email protected]
