A man was caught on camera stealing a prized Jinro toad statue from outside a Korean restaurant in Tanjong Pagar—only to return it days later after the footage went viral.

In CCTV footage shared online, the suspect, wearing a white cap, is seen strolling past Yeyak Korean Restaurant with a woman when his eyes lock onto the bright pink amphibian mascot. Without hesitation, he casually picks up the statue and walks away as his companion playfully smacks him in mock disapproval.

The iconic figurine serves as the beloved mascot for Jinro, Korea's top-selling soju brand. According to social media posts tracking the incident, this particular statue was a limited-edition promotional item valued at approximately $500.

Time-stamped records show the brazen theft occurred in the early hours of Sunday (June 8) around 1:19 am. When staff arrived for work that morning, they immediately noticed their missing mascot and filed a police report.

A Change of Heart

After images of his late-night escapade spread across social platforms, the unidentified man had an abrupt change of heart. Restaurant management confirmed he personally returned "Ippeun-i"—the statue's official name—and offered compensation for damages.

"He claimed he took it because his female companion mentioned her child would enjoy it," explained representatives from Yeyak Korean Restaurant in their Facebook update. "The individual expressed deep regret over his impulsive decision."

The establishment publicly thanked netizens and local residents whose online vigilance helped recover their signature decor piece. Meanwhile, Singapore Police Force representatives told AsiaOne that while investigations remain active following initial reports, no arrests have been made at this time.