The "Where's Wally?" mystery that gripped Boston for about an hour Friday afternoon was apparently the result of a misunderstanding between the Red Sox and an employee, who, according to police, took the mascot costume without authorization and without informing the team.

A Red Sox security officer called the Boston Police Department at 2:24 p.m. to report that the Wally The Green Monster mascot costume had been stolen, and that the suspect was seen in the area of Boylston and Dartmouth Streets in Boston, which is about a mile from Fenway Park.

At 3:30 p.m., the Boston police announced that Wally had been located. The police told ESPNBoston.com that no charges will be filed.

"Never fear Red Sox Nation: Wally is safe and on his way back to Fenway Park," the Red Sox tweeted a short time later.

The team later tweeted a photo of Wally standing in front of the Green Monster at Fenway. The scoreboard behind him read "I'M BACK!"

On the field, the Red Sox have had a season full of bad news.

They have endured countless injuries and head into a weekend series against the New York Yankees in the Bronx 10½ games out of first place.