Police probe missing manatee sculptures

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Police in a Florida city are trying to find out who has been vandalizing and stealing manatee sculptures.

The first manatee was taken from Jacksonville's Museum of Science and History in November and turned up three days later.

This week, the vandal or vandals went after an array of 40 manatees designed as a fundraiser for a children's charity, the Jacksonville Times-Union reports. Manatee Wannabe was taken while Marilyn Manatee was knocked off its pedestal and lost chunks of its blonde hair and white dress.

Mimi Kersun, who owns an antique store near the manatee display, called the crime "just so mean."

The Times-Union says that the latest episode in the Case of the Missing Manatees -- or Sea Cow Caper -- could be the criminals' undoing. A garbage man reportedly told police he spotted two men loading Wannabe into a pickup truck, while a jewelry store owner said that his security cameras may have picked up valuable clues.