A Phoenix “Pokémon GO” player has ended a search for the Dairy Queen’s roughly 15-foot red spoon stolen over a week ago in Phoenix.
Michael Foster, 52, was playing the smartphone-based game on Monday morning when he stumbled upon the giant spoon at about 7 a.m., according to the Associated Press.
“The first thing I did was send a picture to my wife and I said, ‘It’s the spoon.’ She said ‘call the police,'” Foster told The Associated Press.
Phoenix police said they received the call about the spoon being found at about 8 a.m. near Marc T. Atkinson Middle School located near Maryvale Parkway and Indian School Road, only about two miles away from where it was stolen.
A school maintenance man came over and pushed the spoon over the fence that surrounds the school’s baseball field. Foster called the police and handed it over.
“I set it down. They actually did the lifting after we got it over the fence,” Foster told the Associated Press. “They strapped it to the top of a police cruiser.”
Police said the search for the people who stole the spoon was still on going. Silent Witness announced they were offering a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects. People can submit tips by calling 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.
In the early morning of March 25 three individuals stole the $3,500 decorative red spoon from the front of the Dairy Queen located at 5105 West Thomas Road, according to police. The trio, police said, unbolted the installation’s bottom and pulled its top away from its anchor.
The suspects were described by police as a 5-foot-8, 180-pound, black-haired and bearded man; a 5-foot-6, 120-pound, brown-haired woman; and a 5-foot-8, 160-pound man with a black Yankees hat and jeans with striped pocket design.
Police said a black Chevrolet Silverado truck with black wheels towing a dual axle flatbed trailer with white wheels is also sought in connection with the theft.
The owners of the location offered a reward of free Blizzard treats for anyone who helped return the spoon, but Foster told AP he doesn’t need a reward.
“Honestly, we’re just glad they’re gonna get their spoon back,” he said.