To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Police On The Hunt For Whoever Put Googly Eyes On Statue

Police On The Hunt For Whoever Put Googly Eyes On Statue

The local authorities have said 'it's not laughing matter' but people on social media disagree

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Cops in Savannah, Georgia on the hunt for a criminal who put googly eyes on to a statue of Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. Where's Batman when you need him eh?

Now, while you or I might look at that simply go, 'heh', let me tell you that the police in Savannah say it is no laughing matter. Whichever vile fiend is responsible for such a hideous crime will be charged with trespassing.

Taking to Facebook the City of Savannah Government wrote: "Who did this?! Someone placed googly eyes on our historic Nathanael Greene statue in Johnson Square.

"It may look funny but harming our historic monuments and public property is no laughing matter, in fact, it's a crime.

City of Savannah Government

"We are hoping to find the person responsible! If you have information, please call Savannah Police Department."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the post has gone viral, racking up over 24,000 shares and 12,000 likes - so at the least the message is getting out there, eh?

The comments are pretty much as you'd imagine, people taking the piss, with one posting: "I always wanted to visit Savannah, but now that I see how unsafe it is, no thanks! I'll consider it once they catch this psychopath. Is the FBI involved yet?"

Another added: Can y'all get with Facebook and create a "Mark yourself safe during the googly-eyed bandit crime spree? I have family down there and I'm worried."

Spokesperson for Savannah Police Bianca Johnson told Buzzfeed News that CCTV footage in the area was now being examined with cops keeping their eyes peeled for any sign of the perpetrator.

She added: "If we didn't do anything this thing could get out of hand. We want people to understand we don't want to see this kind of thing happening. They need to know they can't go around doing whatever they want to our statues."


via GIPHY

Cops also confirmed that the googly eyes, which many social media users think make a charming addition to the monument, haven't damaged the statue.

But, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, whoever put them there could see themselves falling foul of a misdemeanor offence, which covers 'defacing, defiling or mutilating a grave marker, monument or memorial devoted to a deceased person who served in the military'.

Greene, was a major general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, where he was responsible for helping the state of Georgia free itself from the British forces. After the war he and his family moved to Savannah where he died in 1786 and was buried in the city.

Featured Image Credit: City of Savannah Government

Topics: US News, crime