Police executed a search warrant on a house in Coonabarabran on Sunday and located the stolen Rhino statue in a garage at the location. 

The statue was not damaged and was returned to Coonabarabran Police Station awaiting it's return to Dubbo.

A 41-year-old man, and a 37-year-old woman, both from Coonabarabran, have been charged with several offences in connection with the matter and will appear before Coonabarabran Local Court on 21st. September, 2017.

“The Rhino statue, an iconic symbol of Dubbo, once stood proudly on the verge of the Mitchell Highway near Dubbo Airport until the 19th of July this year, when it was reported stolen by it's owners, The Dubbo Regional Council,” Inspector Dan Skelly said.  

“An investigation was commenced by Orana Mid-Western Police, with pictures of the Rhino statue posted far and wide on numerous social media sites appealing for information as to the whereabouts of the statue. 

“DRC offered a reward of $2500 for information leading to the statues recovery which prompted an inrush of information from the community. 

"Great news for the community of Dubbo, we have been able to locate this treasured and expensive symbol of Dubbo, in an un-damaged state. Arrangements are underway to return the statue to the Dubbo Regional Council as soon as we can," Inspector Dan Skelly said. 

Dubbo Mayor Ben Shields said it was great the rhino had been found and said the police had done a great job of recovering the community’s stolen property. 

“It’s certainly good to get it back, it just goes to show whomever stole it, aren’t the brightest of all sparks because how are you supposed to keep those things hidden for a long time?”.

“Firstly, the audacity of someone pinching the rhinos is extraordinary but then also how stupid they thought they could be that they could honestly hide something like that.

“I think what helped was the fact the community really took this upon themselves to take note of it, it was such an iconic piece of community infrastructure that people would see anywhere, the news got out well and truly got out that the rhino was taken. 

“It was pretty obvious to track down because people would know they’re not meant to be gone and any stray red rhino they see roaming around, well clearly its been stolen.”