A forklift is believed to have been involved in the theft this month of a 460-pound pink, concrete pig stolen from the private yard of Winnipeg Blue Bombers American football team president, Lyle Bauer.

Football club board member David Asper told the National Post newspaper that the pig thieves would be brought to justice.

Deep tyre tracks were the only indication of what had occurred on the night of October 11, said Bauer. A forklift is the chief suspect.

"We've become very attached to this pig," said Bauer, a former Blue Bombers lineman, who was named the team's president in 2000. "It's become a community landmark. So, they'll just have to bring it back in the dead of night - just like when they took it."

Bauer said his children had adopted the pig as a pet.

"Our family name is across the butt of it, so it's not going to sneak in anywhere inconspicuously," he said, adding that he believed the theft was "some people having a bit of fun."

Police have little idea what motivated the pig-napping.

"It could have been someone just fooling around or it could have been someone had it planned," said one officer. "We have no suspects or anything right now."