FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A 5-foot tall Native American statue that had become a fixture on the Las Olas Boulevard strip was stolen during the weekend.
The statue had been in front of Macabi Cigars & Liquor shop at 1219 E. Las Olas Blvd. for the past 20 years.
Thieves apparently plucked the 90-pound wooden piece from its place between 11:30 p.m. and midnight Saturday while the store was still open.
The store's owner noticed the statue missing at closing time when he went outside to move the fixture indoors.
"First of all, I said, 'Who the hell has taken the Indian away? That's my baby. I've had that baby for the past 20 years,'" said Pat Patel.
The cigar shop has surveillance cameras inside and outside but heavy rains caused the exterior cameras to fog up. When officers showed up at the scene to file a police report, they found no usable images of the thieves.
Patel paid thousands of dollars for the statue two decades ago to purposely decorate the front of his small business, which has stood the test of time.
"I do miss it. I haven't slept all night," Patel said. "I keep thinking, 'Who the hell has taken the Indian out?'"
Patel is now offering a $500 cash reward for its safe return.
"People love it. People take pictures with it," said Chris Rotella, who works at a neighboring business. "It's a part of the fun night after you've had a few drinks. Everybody likes to takes pictures with the Indian."
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