by: Don Foley Public Affairs Manager, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
It’s been four days since “Quilty,” a fiberglass sculpture of a loggerhead turtle, was first reported stolen from Creekside Park at Grand Haven in Palm Coast.
“Plenty of people have their eyes wide open for these thieves. They can’t hide in their shells forever,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. “No matter how you paint this, this is a crime against the people of Flagler County.”
And now, Crimestoppers of Northeast Florida has offered a reward of up to $5,000 for the tip that leads to the whereabouts of the important missing piece in the Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s “Turtle Trail.”
Private donors have also announced a $2,000 reward leading to the return of the statue. Valued at $8,000, Quilty, the sixth turtle installed in the Turtle Trail, is painted blue and white, measures 4 feet by 5 feet and weighs 60 pounds.
“Plenty of people have their eyes wide open for these thieves. They can’t hide in their shells forever,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. “No matter how you paint this, this is a crime against the people of Flagler County.”
The first turtles of the Turtle Trail were installed four years ago as part of a Palm Coast Arts Foundation project.
This past November, the 15th turtle in the trail was installed near the Flagler County Health Department.
If you have any information which may help locate the sculpture, call CrimeStoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-TIPS.
Maybe it decided to return to the ocean.
seriously though, hopefully it gets returned or is found and the thieves are punished to the fullest extend of the law. But we all know that would just be a slap on the wrist. Maybe the one in front of city hall could be repainted as nice as “Quilty” is. The one in front of city hall looks hideous. The other thing I’m thinking is that the city could find better things to do with $120,000.00. (15 turtle statues at 8,000 each)JMO