One Southern California dinosaur is back in its natural environment on Monday after facing near extinction.
A large green dinosaur from a Sinclair gas station in San Joaquin County, California, was stolen on October 27, per CBS News. Police investigated the stolen dinosaur, which left a trail toward Stockton, where it was found with a black bag over its head.
A suspect was arrested — albeit not the person the dinosaur was ultimately found with, who claimed they had no idea the dinosaur was stolen.
Deputies returned the dinosaur to the gas station it was originally stationed at on Monday. But before doing so, the deputies who rescued it took several photos to celebrate their achievement.
“Thanks to the stellar investigative work of our B-Side patrol deputies, this theft of a prehistoric creature did not become unsolved history. Another case has officially gone extinct,” the Sheriff’s Office joked in an Instagram post from Monday.
This is not the first time a Sinclair dinosaur has been stolen. The same thing happened at a Brentwood gas station in October of 2025, but this dinosaur, named Claire, was returned wrapped in fabric with a note that read, “Please do not press charges!” before police had to get involved.
The dinosaur that was rescued in San Joaquin has not been given a name yet. But perhaps that will now change, given its newfound fame.