Tiki Statues Stolen From Modesto Restaurant

MODESTO (CBS13) – Thieves stole thousands of dollars' worth of unique, hand-carved decorations from a Modesto mainstay, and the value of the stolen goods could lead to federal charges for the culprits.

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

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.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Stanislaus County Crime Stoppers by calling (209) 521-INFO or submitting a tip online.