Thief steals beloved gorilla statue from Melbourne retirement home

On June 6, 2023, Matthew Newbould, a 33-year-old man, stole a 20kg gorilla statue named Garry from Leith Village, a retirement home in St Helena, Melbourne. Newbould was at the retirement village to buy a chest of drawers when he noticed the statue perched on tree stumps. He impulsively decided to take the statue, loading it onto a hired utility vehicle before driving away. A bystander witnessed the theft and reported it to the police, providing photographic evidence of the incident. Following the theft, police arrested Newbould on July 5, 2023, after discovering incriminating text messages on his phone, including one that read, "LOL I stole a gorilla, so what?" His lawyer argued that the theft was opportunistic and that Newbould had no plans to sell the statue. The court heard that he acknowledged his actions as a "very silly" mistake. During the court proceedings, magistrate Michael Wighton expressed concern over the combination of theft and unlicensed driving, leading to a more severe sentence than initially requested by the defense. Newbould was ordered to undergo a community corrections order assessment, with sentencing scheduled for September 2023. The case highlights the consequences of impulsive decisions and the legal repercussions of theft, even when the stolen item is a seemingly harmless garden ornament. Newbould's bail was extended until the upcoming sentencing hearing, emphasizing the seriousness of the crime and the need for accountability.