A beloved Nutcracker statue is back in pride of place at a South Australian shopping centre after a brazen thief had an apparent change of heart.
The 1.9m figure was stolen from Mount Barker shopping centre in the Adelaide Hills about 8pm on December 30 but was returned to the centre's car park overnight.
Despite CCTV footage of the heist showing a teenage male in a red-and-white Chicago Bulls jacket leaving with the object up a travelator, it has proved a tough case to crack.
It is believed the thief was with three teenage girls.
Police said one had long blonde hair and was wearing a black jacket, black pants with white stripes, and black shoes.
The other two girls were described as having long brown or dark hair, one wearing all black and the other a mint-coloured jacket and black-and-white Nike shoes.
Police have interviewed staff and are appealing for witnesses who can identify any of the would-be bandits.
