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Shark head tourist attraction taken

Davis Bay
shark
This well-known shark head tourist attraction in Davis Bay has been stolen.

A fishy theft caused some jaws to drop on social media this week as Coasters heard about the disappearance of Sharky – the shark head tourist attraction that used to sit outside Mosaic Market in Davis Bay.

The well-known rubber shark head placed in a small fibreglass boat has been a tourist attraction for nearly two years on the side of Highway 101 in Davis Bay, but last weekend, sometime between Jan. 21 and 22, the shark head was taken.

“It would have been pretty hard to get. It was in there pretty secure,” said Mosaic Market and Sharky owner Kathy Trites. “It was bolted to some wood and the wood was bolted to the boat. Someone ripped the side of the fibreglass boat to get it out.”

She posted news of the theft to online message boards on Jan. 23, asking the community to keep an eye out – and soon messages of support started flooding in.

“I’ve been amazed at the response online,” said Trites. “I never realized that many people even noticed him or cared about him.”

Coasters have offered to keep their eyes open and a few tips have come in, but as of Wednesday, Sharky had not been found.

Trites said she hopes the shark head will be returned soon, noting she won’t press charges if Sharky’s left anonymously outside Mosaic Market.

She originally bought the rubber shark head from one of her suppliers as a way to draw attention to her store in Davis Bay, and it’s definitely done its job.

“A lot of people stop when they see the shark and they take pictures with it, with their hand in its mouth or their head in its mouth,” Trites said.

“It’s just something that tourists and locals have enjoyed and we really want to have it back.”

If you have information about the theft, you’re asked to contact the Sunshine Coast RCMP at 604-885-2266.