The sentimental statue of Sylvester and Tweety bird was returned to its rightful owners late this Monday morning, after the detective working the case spotted the statue near a driveway about a mile and a half away.

While out interviewing witnesses in an unrelated case, Det. Richard Zeltman spotted the statue and immediately recognized it as the one stolen from the yard of Jim Winebarger on Nov. 26. The resident who had the statue on his property said someone who he didn’t know just dropped it off, and he was planning on throwing it out.

The statue was found in the Harlem Heights area, just about a mile and a half from Coastal Estates, where it was stolen from. Zeltman immediately placed the statue in the back seat of his car, and headed to the Winebargers house.

Around noon, the detective was able to bring the Sylvester and Tweety statue back home to the Winebargers, who were elated to have their prized possession back, said Trish Routte of Crime Stoppers.

Neighbors of the Winebargers even cheered when they saw the detective handing the statue back to its owner, she said. No arrests have been made in the case, but for now, he Winebargers are just happy that their Christmas miracle came a little early.

Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help tracking down the thief who stole the statue of the cartoon characters Sylvester the Cat and Tweety Bird from the elderly couple in Fort Myers.

Route said it happened sometime between 10 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 26 and Saturday morning, Nov. 27. The Windbargers live in Coastal Estates on Bombay Lane.

At the time of the theft, Winebarger said it had little financial value but said it holds “extreme sentimental value” to him and his wife, as it was a gift from his nephew 10 years ago. The victim said the statue hasn’t been tampered with for the last decade, nd that its difficult to imagine why anyone would have gone onto his property and stolen it.

If you have information about who took the statue, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS. You do not have to give your name and your call is not traced.