The theft from a flatbed truck was reported to police last weekend and artist Lawrence Noble, 55, of Crestline has offered a $1,000 reward for its return. The limited-edition bronze is worth up to $20,000.

"It's a real high-end collectible," Noble said.

The statue was one of four bolted to a flatbed truck parked overnight Jan. 17 at the Westway Inn on Colorado Boulevard. The driver parked the truck in the parking lot so they could keep an eye on the statues, police spokeswoman Janet Pope said.

But someone grabbed Yoda that night or early the next morning.

"We are treating this as a burglary and we'd appreciate any information the public might have," Pope said.

The statues were being transported from Artworks Foundry in Berkeley to DKE Enterprises in Los Angeles to be sold, Noble said. Lucasfilm Ltd. commissioned the statues, a part of a planned series featuring other "Star Wars" characters.