Man charged over alleged theft of Garry the gorilla

A man who handed himself in to police has been charged over the alleged theft of a gorilla statue from a retirement village in Melbourne's north.

The gorilla, a 1.5-metre garden ornament named Garry, disappeared from Leith Park retirement village at St Helena on 6 June.

Police alleged Garry was taken off his perch of tree stumps, loaded on to a vehicle and driven away, which they said had left residents devastated.

The statue was returned on Wednesday afternoon after the police air wing spotted it in the yard of a Reservoir property, about 20 minutes' drive away.

First Const Anju Vashisht acknowledged it was a strange case and could not explain why anyone would steal the community mascot.

"That's the million dollar question, isn't it," she told reporters.

Officers raided the home on Monday, seizing Garry along with 24 suspected stolen drivers' licences and prescription medication.

A 33-year-old Heidelberg Heights man made himself known to police after significant news coverage of Garry's return home.

Police interviewed the man on Friday morning and charged him with theft, handling stolen goods and driving while disqualified.

He has been released on bail and will face Heidelberg magistrates court on 30 August.