The Fourth of July is a celebration by all Americans of our freedom and liberties- a day we all hold in admiration. However, this year will be less revered on the University of North Carolina Wilmington campus.

Police are investigating the theft of the bronze seahawk statue previously located in front of the Warwick Center. The statue, built in 1998 by Joe Orlando, was ripped from its talons. The 75 pound, 3 foot hawk was estimated to be currently worth $37,000.

The statue is believed to have been stolen in between the night of July 4^th and morning of July 5^th according to Captain Christopher Padgett, UNCW Investigations Division Commander.

Padgett has worked for both city and state law enforcement agencies since 1993, before beginning work at UNCW in 2003. He encourages anyone with valid information to come forward.

“As important as it is to hold those who stole the statue accountable, it is just as important to this community that we recover the statue.  The statue has been a landmark on the campus since 2000, when it was dedicated,” said Padgett.

This isn’t the first time the seahawk was stolen, the same statue was stolen in 2003. However, it was recovered on a stairwell in an apartment complex on North Kerr Avenue according to UNCW archives. Metal sculptor Dumay Gorham III restored and re-attached the bird to its granite base using solid bronze posts to prevent another theft.  

UNCW police are currently attempting to use facial recognition software in an attempt to further identify the suspects. They are planning on releasing a copy of a video of the theft to the public once it has been enhanced.

Anyone with information about suspects who stole the statute or the whereabouts of the statue can forward that information to UNCWPD by calling the station at 910-962-2222 or anonymously at 1-800-531-9845. A reward will be paid for substantial information.