Ex Scotland rugby player offers £100 reward for return of stolen alien statue depicting character from comedy movie 'Paul'

A former Scotland rugby player is offering £100 to anyone who can find a statue of an alien which was stolen from a garage outside his Edinburgh home.
Norrie Rowan is hoping someone might have seen hs distinctive looking alien statue, Paul.Norrie Rowan is hoping someone might have seen hs distinctive looking alien statue, Paul.
Norrie Rowan is hoping someone might have seen hs distinctive looking alien statue, Paul.

Norrie Rowan, who played for Scotland in the 1980s, discovered his lock-up garage door in Lanark Road wide open early on Friday morning after a group of rugby players staying in the house next door raised the alarm.

Among the items taken was the one metre tall statue of Paul, the alien character that features in the science fiction comedy movie of the same name starring Simon Pegg.

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Norrie had bought the sculpture at auction for about £1,000 and regularly displayed it at the front of his garage for the entertainment of passing walkers, cyclists and bus passengers across the road.

The former prop forward reckons either the remote controlled garage door might have malfunctioned and opened and allowed the thieves to gain easy access, or that they may have found a way to override the controls.

Speaking to the Edinburgh Evening News on Monday, he said: “I’ll give someone £100 if they can lead me to it.

"I'm hoping someone will pick it up or that someone sees it, as it's very distinctive. Hopefully it’s just someone who has had a bit to drink and they will hand it back.

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“I bought it because it was quirky and it’s the sort of thing you put in a shop window or something."

It is believed the golden-green coloured statue was taken from his garage, near the Water of Leith Conservation Trust and Visitor Centre, at some point between 9pm on Thursday and 4am on Friday.

Norrie said he was speaking to a friend on the west coast about the incident who told him the film Paul was actually on the TV on Thursday evening.

The 2011 movie focuses on two science fiction geeks who meet an alien called Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) with a sarcastic manner and an appetite for alcohol and cigarettes. Together, they help the alien escape from FBI agents who are pursuing him so he can return to his home world.

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Norrie’s daughter has also shared an appeal for the statue on social media, and someone commented on the thread to say a nearby joiner’s workshop was also broken into that same night.

The former international rugby player says he contacted police about the incident and has suggested they check CCTV across the road from his garage.

Norrie also has a big Oor Wullie statue in his garage and collects lots of other bits and bobs which he describes himself as “junk” – but he stressed he’d really like the alien back.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Officers in Edinburgh received reports of a theft by housebreaking in Lanark Road on Friday, 1 May 2020.

"The incident happened sometime between 9pm on Thursday, 30 April, and 12.45pm the following day.

"Enquiries are ongoing."