Grizzly crime solved: Candy factory’s stolen bear found

ABILENE, Kan. – Police say a sweet tip led to the recovery of a bear statue that was stolen from outside a candy factory in central Kansas a year ago.

Abilene Police Department assistant chief Jason Wilkins says the Russell Stover Candies sculpture, depicting a sitting teddy bear covered in chocolate, was found Wednesday in a Salina home following a tip from someone apparently unconnected to its theft.

Det. Karmen Kupper says a suspect has been identified but hasn’t been arrested.

Wilkins tells The Wichita Eagle that early leads in the November 2016 theft from the company’s Abilene factory didn’t pan out and that the bear investigation had “become a running joke.”

Kupper describes the 150-pound, 4-foot tall (70-kilogram, 1.2 metre tall) sculpture as a “huge landmark” and a popular backdrop for pictures.