Stolen Spirit the Bobcat statue recovered in Bobcat Stadium

A Spirit the Bobcat statue that was reported missing on April 6 after being stolen from the SUB has been recovered almost a month later.

At about 7:40 a.m. the morning of Tuesday, May 3, the statue was found at the 50-yard line of Bobcat Stadium, according to MSU spokesperson Mike Becker.

“There’s no indication of who left it there, or when exactly it appeared,” Becker said. “We’re grateful that it has been returned and returned undamaged.” 

There are no surveillance cameras in the area where the statue, which measures 20 inches tall and weighs 60 pounds, was stolen from the SUB. The university sent a press release on April 6 advising community members to send tips to the MSU police department about its whereabouts.

“The police did receive some tips along the way and are grateful to the public for helping out,” Becker said. “We’re thankful to have the spirit statue returned undamaged.”

There are currently no plans to add any additional security measures to protect the statue in the future, nor will there be an investigation, Becker said.

“It’s one of those things where people might notice suspicious things or activities,” he said. “It’s worth sending up a flag and letting university police know if you see anything.” 

While there is no ongoing investigation, tips about the incident will continue to be accepted by the police. Anyone with information can call or email Detective Ashlee Heavrin at (406)-994-1204 and a.heavrin@montana.edu or submit an anonymous tip through the University Police’s Silent Witness email at https://www.montana.edu/police/services/crime-reporting.html.