The East Lansing Art Festival was struck by theft this year, resulting in the loss of two metal sculptures valued at a combined $7,000 before they were recovered, officials report. According to ClickOnDetroit, the sculptures were stolen from a vendor during the festival, which took place on Saturday, May 18, prompting an investigation by the East Lansing Police Department.

In a turn of events, the artworks were retrieved not far from where they had disappeared, East Lansing police piecing together information after the community was solicited for help, photos of the missing pieces were spread far and wide and a tip from a local business led to their recovery. According to a WILX report, artist Chad Anderson received a call from the East Lansing Police Department, notifying him that his honeybee and blue heron sculptures were awaiting his retrieval a few blocks from the festival location.

The sculptures, which took three weeks each to craft, were found and identified by a business nearby the festival spot, who then alerted police the stolen items, "They found it, like, three blocks north of the art show," Anderson recounted in an interview with WLNS. He speculated that the theft might have been a result of "some kids that had a little too much liquid courage," and expressed gratitude for their return, emphasizing the time he could now save to "keep building more sculptures, you know."

While the circumstances surrounding the initial theft remain unclear, Anderson who is situated in the Grand Rapids area, was relieved to have his work back and intact, the stolen pieces now in police custody signify a sort of resolution to the ordeal that began with an unrecognized appetite for heist or perhaps an ill-advised prank, "I was just happy to get it back," Anderson told WLNS, a sentiment no doubt echoed by the larger artist community of Michigan. East Lansing Police Department had earlier asked for public assistance to track down the stolen art, and the successful recovery of these unique pieces underscores the importance of vigilance and community involvement in preserving the sanctity of art and local culture.