A Pink Panther theft that didn't get far

A beloved community landmark has been recovered after Police intercepted an alleged overnight theft of Inglewood's iconic Pink Panther statue, leading to the arrest of three people.

The incident unfolded at about 10.15pm, when a member of the public reported seeing two men allegedly taking the statue from Tawa Street. The caller was able to provide Police with a description of the vehicle involved, a white Ford Ranger, giving officers a crucial lead.

A short time later, Sergeant Holly Robertson spotted a vehicle matching the description north of Stratford. With assistance from other Police staff, the vehicle was stopped and searched.

Three occupants were taken into custody.

The Pink Panther statue was recovered and safely returned to the dairy where it is usually displayed.

Area Commander Inspector Mark Miller praised Sergeant Robertson's actions, saying they helped prevent the loss of a much-loved local landmark.

“We know how beloved the statue is by locals, and how gutted they’d be if it were to disappear – this is community Policing in action and I’m proud to have such awesome staff working hard to stop crime in its tracks.”

Police said the quick response, supported by information provided by a member of the public, enabled officers to recover the statue within hours of the reported incident.

"You could say it was a pawsome result!"