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Show u The dinosaur hunt ended Tuesday corning when Vernal City Police detec-ives detec-ives located the three stolen dinosaur eplicas, but investigation is continuing d find the "pranksters" who took the eplicas from Dinosaur Gardens last eek. The hunt began last Sunday when lichael Perry, director of the Dinosaur Jatural History Museum, reported that mo protoceratops, dark-blue lizard-ike lizard-ike dinosaurs, and an ornithomimus, bright yellow kangaroo-like dinosaur were missing. Acting on information reported at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday from a woman who said she saw what she thought were the dinosaurs and three males in a pickup next to them, detectives Joseph Boren, Mel Curtis and Paul Parker went to Dry Fork where they were reported seen. Following the tread marks left by the pickup from where' it was last seen, the detectives found the three dinosaur replicas near the Sadie McConkie ranch in Dry Fork. The replicas received only minor damage, a toe was missing on one, and were transported back to their home at Dinosaur Gardens. "It's like seeing your long lost children coming home," said Perry on seeing the dinosaurs returned. Officers took tire and foot print impressions im-pressions at the scene, and are op- timistic about apprehending those responsible. "Evidence at the scene," said Robert T. Downard, Vernal City Chief, "was significant enough to anticipate locating a suspect shortly." The three 90-pound dinosaur replicas which were stolen are valued at $48,000; $24,000 for the two protoceratops and $24,000 for the ornithomimus, and are part of 14 life-size fiberglass dinosaurs on display at Dinosaur Gardens adjacent adja-cent to the museum. .. i-R"1;. "' - I .T i I- .A 1 ' i 1 - - v - " I ) ' " - EVER TRIED TO CARRY an ornithomimus? Detective Joseph Boren carries a stolen dinosaur replica from where it was stashed stash-ed under a cedar tree in Dry Fork. 'r-- V P'ilf? 111 HAPPY 'TO have them home, Michael Perry (left) lifts one of the three stolen dinosaur replicas which were stolen from Dinosaur Gardens last week. |