Last Thursday, the hunt was on for a life-sized lion statue that had been stolen from outside a shop in Walcot Street in Bath.
Leonard the lion was the pride of Martin Tracy’s Framing Workshop business. He went missing overnight into the 26th October from his position on a flat roof on the first floor.
Mr Tracy said: “He’s a very popular and well-known attraction in Walcot Street and it’s a real shame that he’s been stolen. It must have taken at least four people to do it – two on the roof to unbolt him and more on ground level to lower him down. They must have had a vehicle to take him away because he’s very large and heavy.”
Mr Tracy bought Leonard in the Lions of Bath charity event in 2010 when a hundred lion sculptures were placed around the city. He was decorated in circus-theme jumping through a frame, and this summer celebrated the London Olympics by being adapted to jumping through Olympic rings.
He also helped the Framing Workshop win a gold medal in this year’s Bath in Bloom competition – and was wearing the award around his neck when he was stolen.
“Leonard has cost us around £2,500, with help from other businesses in Walcot Street, so there’s a community sense of loss at this theft,” said Mr Tracy. “We have no idea who has taken him or why, but obviously we’d like him back in one piece.”
Bath police were investigating the theft and urged anyone who may have seen people and a vehicle near the shop in Walcot Street during the night and early that morning to get in contact.
On Saturday morning, the lion was found by the Tracy’s in the shop doorway, undamaged apart from a few minor scratches, when they arrived for work. It is not known what happened during the day that the lion was missing, although the owners are grateful for its return.
