KPTV - FOX 12Police locate owner of stolen sea otter sculpture

Portland police say they've found the owner of a valuable bronze sea otter sculpture that was stolen in May.

"It will be nice to have him back," said Kooy who sculpted the life-size otter valued at $6,000 and weighing around 55lbs.

Kooy created only four of the sea otter sculptures; one remains on display at the Oregon Zoo; two are with private collectors and the last belonged to Kooy.

"I wasn't planning on making any more of them, so I was hanging onto it," said Kooy.

However, Kooy said the sculpture was stolen while in storage, after it had been on display at the Day Building on Southeast Foster.  The gallery was under remodel at the time, according to Kooy, and the sculpture along with some construction equipment was stolen.

Police said they eventually tracked down the stolen items, including the bronze otter.  Detectives learned Kooy had sculpted the piece, but they had trouble tracking him down because investigators had an incorrect spelling of his last name.

On Wednesday, detectives asked the public for help, and tips from the public helped crack the case.

"They had a couple of people call in; one was a former student who said maybe you should check out this name," said Kooy.

Thanks to the lead, Kooy will be reunited with his otter sculpture, he calls Oscar, on Friday.

"It was one of my first bronzes that I had done, so it had a lot of sentimental value," said Kooy. "I was really pleased that Portland police put so much effort into trying to track it down."

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