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A 3-foot statue was found in some bushes near a gas station on Route 130 Friday night. Police are trying to determine if a crime has been committed.

(Courtesy Burlington City Police)

BURLINGTON CITY -- Burlington City police are trying to determine if a crime was committed when someone left 3-foot statue of a figure holding a gun in some bushes near a gas station Friday night, police said.

"It shows a person that could look like its wearing Middle Eastern garb, possibly a burqa, and holding an assault rifle," Sgt. John Fine said Monday.

The statue was found near the corner of Route 130 South and High Street, outside the Burlington Gulf Station, Fine said.

Police were alerted by a resident who contacted police after seeing a video of the statue that had circulated on Facebook. As of Monday, the video had about 15,000 views, Fine said.

Police spoke to the gas station owner, Gurmeet Singh, and station employees Saturday morning. None had any knowledge of the statue or how it got there. The statue was placed far away from the employee area and out of view of the gas pumps, Fine said.

Fine said the statue had only been there a short time and there was no indication that there was any harm to the business.

"We're trying to determine if this is a crime or not,'' Fine said. "We want the community to know that we stand with Mr. Singh and his business.''

The Burlington City police posted a photo Saturday on the department's Facebook page of officers and the gas station management shaking hands.

"In such a diverse community like the City of Burlington, we must ensure that all people are treated with dignity and not "stereotyped,'" Fine said in a release.

This incident is being investigated by the City of Burlington Police Department Criminal Investigation Division. Anyone with information is urged to call Detective Matthew Mercuri at 609-386-0262 Ext. 273 or leave a confidential tip on our website: www.burlingtonpolicenj.com.

NEWS RELEASE / UPDATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA POSTApril 18, 2015During the early morning hours of April 18, 2015, the City of... Posted by City of Burlington Police Department on Saturday, April 18, 2015

Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njtimes.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.