‘Please Don’t Press Charges!’ Beloved Brentwood Gas Station Dinosaur Is Returned With An Apology Note

From the [Hollywood Sign](https://secretlosangeles.com/hollywood-sign/) to the [Santa Monica Ferris wheel,](https://secretlosangeles.com/santa-monica-ferris-wheel-solar-powered/) L.A. is full of iconic landmarks that shape the city’s cultural fabric and its surroundings. But beyond those heavy hitters, there are other spots (like the violinist mural on the I-110) that aren’t as glamorous but still hold a special place in people’s hearts. One of them is Claire, the beloved 4-foot-tall green fiberglass Apatosaurus, who’s a staple at the Sinclair gas station in Brentwood. The dinosaur was stolen (or should we say “kidnapped?”) on September 27, with security cameras capturing a white pickup truck driving off with the cherished figure, as *Fox News* reported. After her disappearance, the gas station owner, Cari Fawcett, and the entire community were stunned by the news. According to *LAist,* some people even came by to mourn the loss, bringing flowers to the spot where Claire used to stand. The crime drew the attention of locals and celebrities, including actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who shared a video of the incident. “REALLY!” Curtis wrote in the caption. “Hey, you with your fancy truck, really? You need to steal the dinosaur from in front of the Sinclair gas station? Really? Not cool dude. Not cool! #thetimestheyareachanging.” But fortunately for everyone, and especially for Claire, the ordeal lasted just one week. On Monday morning, the gas station owner was alerted by her cashier, who spotted that the dinosaur was back. Left on the station’s forecourt, wrapped in a sheet, it had been returned by the same pickup truck that took it, and, surprisingly, came with an apology note: “Sorry for stealing Claire! Please do not press charges!” When asked by Fox if he would press charges, owner John Fawcett said, “I feel bad for somebody who has to steal, and I don’t want to make their life any more miserable than it already is.” Source: https://secretlosangeles.com/claire-gas-station-dinosaur-returned/