Sun swiped from Purdue building returned

Artwork yanked off an interior wall of the Neil A. Armstrong Hall of Engineering early Wednesday was returned about 12 hours after it was taken.

The piece, which depicts the sun as part of a wall-mounted planetary system display on the building's main floor, was dropped off at Purdue University police headquarters Wednesday afternoon, dispatchers confirmed.

Surveillance cameras captured video just before 4 a.m. of two men making off with the piece, which is valued at $1,000, according to Lt. Carrie Costello.

The sudden return of the stolen property came after authorities released four frames of the surveillance footage and asked the public to help identify the thieves.

Anyone with information is asked to call Purdue University police at 765-494-8221 or use the anonymous We-Tip Hotline at 800-782-7463.