Quacking the case! Police nab trio suspected of stealing giant rubber duck statue

Authorities in California arrested a trio suspected of stealing a beloved statue of a giant yellow rubber duckie named Rubberta.

On March 11, the yard art that’s popular with residents of Mountain View went missing from its perch on a neighborhood lawn. 

Police got their ducks in a row and recovered surveillance video of the theft. A clip shows a woman drive up to the duck's home in a white sedan and get out of the vehicle. She is then joined from across the street by another woman and a man, who uses a bolt cutter to cut a chain connected to the duck, which is sporting a giant face mask. The first woman grabs the statue, stashes it in her front seat and takes off. 

When law enforcement officials shared the footage with the public, the duck mysteriously showed back up.

“Our detectives pride themselves on holding those who commit crimes accountable for their actions,” police said. “Even though Rubberta was returned after video of the theft was released, our detectives continued investigating.”

On April 1, officers executed a search warrant on a home in Santa Clara and took into custody Erik Gonzalez, 38, Eleyight Silva, 25, and Sabrina Inigo, 36. 

During the search, investigators allegedly uncovered narcotics and burglary tools.

The suspects were arrested on suspicion of narcotics, possession of burglary tools, grand theft, child endangerment and outstanding warrants, police said. The three were booked into the Santa Clara County Jail.