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Iconic No-Tel Motel sign returned after alleged theft

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TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN 9) — The iconic sign for the former No-Tel Motel on Oracle Road has been returned after being taken late last week.

According to Jude Cook, owner of Cook & Company Sign Makers and founder of the Ignite Sign Art Museum, it was returned Friday morning.

"He thought he was saving them from demolition," Cook said of the person who took the sign faces. "I'm pleased to have them back. No harm, no foul."

The signage was taken from the site of the former motel at 2425 N. Oracle Road, which has been turned into a low-income senior housing complex.

Last Saturday, Cook and his crew went to pick up the sign from the property and move it to his museum where its history would live on.

“I will admit that it’s tacky, but it’s been here since I moved here in ’83 and it just seems like it’s part of Tucson that really deserved to be preserved,” Cook said.

However, when he and his crew arrived, its faces were already gone.

“I got ahold of the superintendent on the job and he said, ‘Well one of your guys came by yesterday and took the faces out.’ and I said, ‘None of my guys were scheduled over here yesterday,’” Cook said.

The six-day search ended after a man came to the museum with the sign.

“This morning (Friday) right as we were opening this gentleman showed up with the sign and wanted to know if we wanted it…it doesn’t get any better than that,” Cook said.

He says he wouldn’t want to press charges.

“I genuinely believe that he was of the concern that the sign was going to get destroyed and he was in the mindset of saving it and that’s all we’re doing so I think as long as the sign got to where it was supposed to be - I think that’s the best solution that we could have,” Cook said.

The sign is already on display at the museum located at 331 S. Olsen Avenue for people to check out.

Watch original report | Iconic No-Tel Motel sign brazenly stolen late last week

Iconic No-Tel Motel sign brazenly stolen