Thieves take ten tiki statues from Calif. restaurant, worth thousands

(CBS SACRAMENTO) MODESTO, Calif. - Thieves stole thousands of dollars' worth of unique, hand-carved tiki statues from a popular Northern California restaurant, and their value could lead to federal charges.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department said the 10 tiki statues that have recently been stolen from Minnie's Restaurant in Modesto are worth anywhere from hundreds of dollars to more than one thousand dollars each, according to CBS Sacramento.

Tiki is a traditionally Polynesian art form depicting large human-like figures.

The family-owned restaurant, which has been in business for six decades, says crime has been increasing in the area recently. The theft of their statues is becoming a costly problem, and owner Pete Mah said he plans to beef up his security to deter future crimes.

"You can't stop what's going to happen but you can make it uneasy for them, so that's our main goal right there," he said.