A group of would-be art thieves on Cape Cod had a change of heart early Tuesday morning when they realized they were on surveillance camera.
The three giggling girls were caught attempting to make off with some shark art in Chatham just after 1 a.m. at Gould Park on Main Street.
Artist Jerry Evans called it "fairly amusing."
"Three fairly intoxicated girls having a wonderful time, taking a shark and going and picking out a second one, before one that seemed less intoxicated noticed the signs," he said.
Once the girls saw the signs, notifying them that they were being recorded, the girls put the sharks back.
"They were like... 'well if we put it back and put it back on camera... we won't get in trouble,'" Evans said.
The annual exhibit is a benefit for the Chatham Merchants Association. Each shark is designed by a different artist.
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The sharks get auctioned off at a minimum of a couple hundred dollars. On average, they go for $1,000.
Last year one shark was stolen. In 2015, two sharks were stolen but returned.
This year, the artists and Chatham Merchants Association just want to get their message out and are pleased that the girls did the right thing by putting them back.
"The artists put their hearts and souls into them, it's something that's good for the community, brings a lot of visitors from all over," said Janice Rogers from the Chatham Merchants Association.
"We don't want anyone to get arrested, we just don't want the sharks to disappear," Evans said.
NBC Boston reached out to Chatham police, but haven't heard back.
To bid on a shark, visit Sharks in the Park.
