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Stolen Orville Wright bust found on North Carolina beach

KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. — Authorities found a bust Tuesday of aviation pioneer Orville Wright days after officials with the National Park Service said it had been stolen from a monument on the North Carolina coast.

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A person visiting Kill Devil Hills beach called authorities in Dare County on Tuesday afternoon after spotting the copper bust tucked into some sand dunes, officials said. Police and park officials later confirmed the bust was one stolen over the weekend from the foot of the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

On Sunday, park officials discovered someone had taken Wright's bust and toppled the heavy granite base it was mounted on.

Authorities continued Wednesday to investigate the case. Officials urged home and business owners in the area to review their security camera footage for signs of suspicious activity that might be connected to the theft and vandalism.

"While we are pleased that the bust of Orville Wright has been found, we are fully investigating this incident in order to determine who stole the bust and caused damage to its granite mounting base," National Parks of Eastern North Carolina Superintendent David Hallac said in a statement.

Anyone with information on the incident was asked to call the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch tip line at 888-653-0009 or submit a tip online.