Overview
- Police located and recovered the stolen portion of the 'Thank You, America' monument later the same day it was reported missing, with officers first notified about the theft at about 1:40 p.m. on Sunday.
- Thieves tore the roughly 1,500-pound bronze South Vietnamese soldier from its pedestal, apparently using vehicles to drag it out of the Vietnamese Heritage Community Garden and leaving tracks and debris to an exit point.
- San Jose police say the investigation is ongoing, no arrests have been made, and the department credited its Neighborhood Quality of Life Unit with helping to track down the statue.
- City leaders and Vietnamese community members expressed outrage, noted the monument cost about $500,000 and took 11 years to realize, and some officials are pushing to repair and reassemble the piece by July 4 if funding and logistics allow.
- The incident follows earlier vandalism at the site and reports that promised security cameras and lighting were not installed, raising questions about how to protect heavy outdoor public art and the resources required to do so.