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Reporter-News Archives Friday, June 4, 1999 Stolen bear finds his way home By DEON DAUGHERTY Staff Writer There’s at least one man in Abilene criminal attorney Randy Wilson says he won’t defend. It’s the one who took a four-foot, 200-pound, solid pine bear statue from his porch. The Wilsons believe someone who knew the decoration was there — perhaps a workman — took the bear because it was not visible from the street. “It was just a flukey deal,” Wilson said. “You hate to get anything stolen.” After the bear disappeared April 18, Wilson spread the word it was missing. He’d had the figure for almost two years after paying a Colorado artist about $600 to carve the beast. Nothing else was removed from the front porch behind the gated front courtyard over which the bear had presided. The attorney’s connections with the murkier side of the law may have sped the return of his prized pal. He put the word out among his clients and former clients that someone had made off with his property. About six weeks later, he received a call that a man who had seen such a bear statue in a home on the southside of town. Wilson notified the police. He met them at the house and together they found the bear captive in the garage. Wilson had the bear back home on Sunday, just in time for the Memorial Day holiday. His wife, JoAnn Wilson, likes to dress up the statue for the season. Abilene police Sgt. Jim DeFoor said that while theft may be a common occurrence in any town, it isn’t often someone calls to report a missing bear. “That’s right up there with a stolen boa constrictor,” DeFoor said. Police are investigating, although no one has been been charged in the matter. Wilson said she and her husband considered not pressing charges but decided the man knew taking someone else’s property is wrong. “He was so happy to get it back,” Wilson said of her husband, whose office features a mounted animal he hunted down out West. “It’s unusual to find stolen property. “But I didn’t miss it the way that he did.” The bear isn’t likely to return to the front porch any time soon. “If he goes back there, I’ll have to chain him down,” Wilson said. Deon Daugherty can be reached at 676-6736 or daughertyd@abinews.com. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below:  texnews.com Reporter OnLine Local News Texas News Copyright ©1999, Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications

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