Stolen UNCW seahawk returned to perch

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Officials with the University of North Carolina Wilmington said the stolen bronze Seahawk statue located at the entrance of the Warwick Center on UNCW’s main campus is back home.

The statue, known as Sammy, was first reported missing on the morning of Saturday, July 5. Officials said it was reinstalled at the location on Monday.

The bronze Seahawk was mounted on a granite base and was broken off near the bird’s talons. The commissioned statue was valued at $70,000 in 2003.

Sammy will be welcomed back to his perch at an official unveiling at 9:00 p.m. on Friday during the annual Midnite Madness celebration.