PARRY SOUND – Seven gnomes made it back home Wednesday.

After taking Town of Parry Sound staff by surprise Saturday morning with their carefully placed presence outside the Tony Agnello Water Treatment Plant, 56 of the gnomes, each named by the unknown culprits, awaited their fate inside the West Parry Sound OPP detachment.

During Tuesday night’s council meeting Coun. Keith Saulnier asked Peter Brown, director of public works, the status of the “gnome invasion.”

“As of 3:55 (Tuesday) afternoon the OPP came and took away the gnomes from the water plant, so we are now gnome-less,” Brown said, getting a chuckle from the audience and council. “And we have no jurisdiction over those particular gnomes, they’re in the hands of the OPP.”

Police have started an investigation, offering a reward of up to $2,000 for any tips that lead to charges, as one theory includes suspicion the gnomes came from local properties throughout the Parry Sound area. Over the past year, OPP officers have received several reports of garden gnome thefts, and could possibly link these gnomes to the thefts with public assistance.

Brown told council anyone looking to pick up their missing gnome is to contact West Parry Sound OPP directly.

“(The gnomes are) still being questioned, but we have not received any information from them,” Brown said with a grin.

Mayor Jamie McGarvey was curious to know the status a particular gnome named Pete.

“I heard that there was one that had your name on it, and I’m very curious, did you adopt that one?” McGarvey asked with a chuckle.

“I have no responsibility for the gnome invasion at the water plant,” Brown answered with a smile.