Police investigating after stolen giant gorilla from Carluke 'spotted' on M25 and M40 motorways near Warwick

Police are investigating after an eight-foot gorilla statue which was stolen from a Lanarkshire garden centre may have been spotted 300 miles away.

The fibreglass gorilla, named Gary, was stolen by a gang of thieves from Reynard Nursery in Carluke between the hours of 11.30pm on March 19 and 12.30am on March 20.

The nursery’s owner, Andrew Scott previously told STV News that Gary “needs to come home”.

Three weeks on, a motorist who spotted a gorilla statue matching Gary’s description strapped to a trailer being towed by a car, on the M40 near Warwick Services on April 6, reported the sighting to police.

Police Scotland said it was aware of the sightings and enquiries are continuing.

When Gary was stolen, he was believed to have been driven from Carluke towards the Glasgow area.

At the time, the alleged thieves were captured on CCTV arriving at the centre in a white van.

They removed the gorilla statue, which was bolted down in three places, and transported him into the van before driving off in the direction of Glasgow.

Police Scotland previously said anyone with information should contact them on 101 quoting incident number 0588 of Monday, March 20, 2023.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We’re aware of the reported sightings and enquiries are ongoing.”

Warwickshire Police have been contacted for comment.