Eagle-eyed cops crack case of kidnapped gorilla statue during Melbourne flyover

The mysterious case of a gorilla statue kidnapped from a retirement home has been cracked after eagle-eyed cops spotted it in the yard of a Melbourne home during a police flyover.

'Garry', the 1.5m gorilla statue, disappeared from Leith Park retirement village at St Helena in the northern suburbs a month ago.

An widespread investigation prompted Victoria Police to narrow their sights on a residence in Reservoir.

The Air Wing was called in to conduct a covert fly over which located Garry languishing in the yard of the property.

A search warrant carried out at the residence on Monday saw the silverback taken into police custody.

Greensborough police will be returning Garry to the entrance of the retirement community on Wednesday as investigations into the crime continue.