by Joe Walker

joewalker@thekmgroup.co.uk

A gang of thieves met their match after trying to steal a 36-stone statue of Scooby Doo – because they couldn’t lift it onto a getaway truck.

The hapless crooks wheeled the concrete dog 500 yards up the road after swiping it from the front garden of a bungalow in Studd Hill, Herne Bay.

But they fled the scene after the sculpture – which weighs more than two baby elephants – proved too heavy to lift onto the waiting flatbed lorry.

The statue’s owner Diana Dooner, of Vauxhall Avenue, was woken the next morning by a neighbour who found it dumped in Daimler Avenue.

She said: “I couldn’t believe it when she told me Scooby was 500 yards up the road. I was in bed so didn’t have a clue what had gone on.

“Another neighbour said she’d seen the whole thing happen but was too scared to call the police.

“She said she saw four men wheel the dog up to this flat-bed truck, but they couldn’t lift him onto it. Eventually they ended up dropping him and broke the concrete base. It was then they decided enough was enough and drove off.

“Their IQ must be minus zero, because common sense would have told you not to steal something that heavy.”

Faced with the task of getting the statue home, Diana called on the help of builders working opposite, who strapped it to a three-ton digger.

The mum-of-five said: “I was in tears and they asked what had happened. I told them and they offered to get him back for me.

“They went down with their own truck but four of them couldn’t lift the statue, so they had to get the digger.

“They tied him to it and trundled down the road with him strapped to the front. Everyone was coming out of their houses and having a look. I was so grateful because I have no idea how I would have got it back otherwise.”

Driving instructor Diana bought the statue for £450 from an antiques store in Wingham 11 years ago.

She said: “It’s been with us so long it’s like a family pet. I’m asthmatic so can’t keep animals, so it’s the nearest I can get.
“I just hope the ill-reputes who tried taking him are caught, or at least put their backs out trying to lift him.”

Police have confirmed they are investigating the theft of a statue weighing a quarter of a ton from Mrs Dooner’s garden at 12.30am on Wednesday, July 27.

Anyone with information should call police on 01622 690690 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting crime number EY/12196/11.