Isle of Wight County sheriff's 1st Sgt. Paul Phelps said deputies responding to Aug. 19 reports of vandalism at Fort Huger park discovered the cannon and sign missing the next morning, the Newport News (Va.) Daily Press reported Wednesday.

Phelps said investigators currently have no witnesses or leads in the case and authorities are baffled as to how the cannon, which was displayed on three pedestals behind a low brick wall, was removed from the site.

He said deputies are attempting to determine whether the theft of the cannon, which is owned by development company Lawnes Point on the James, was a prank, a history fan's attempt to obtain the piece for a collection or aimed at selling the item as scrap metal.