RUMFORD – Chester the Chicken is back in his Bridge Street roost beside Route 2 in Rumford, thanks to Rumford firefighters and police.

Arrested in the missing-chicken-sign mystery and charged with felony theft were Adam L. Collins, 19, of Auburn, and Lee Smith, 21, of Rumford. They are to be arraigned Feb. 1 in Rumford District Court.

The illuminated chicken-to-go sign, featuring the Chester Fried Chicken likeness, was reported stolen on Dec. 3 from the Dead River Food Trend convenience store at 5 Bridge St., which is also known as Route 2.

Valued at $5,000, the two-sided sign was initially blown out of its roost at the base of the store’s towering roadside display on the night of Dec. 2 by a windstorm.

The sign was then propped up overnight on an outside wall near the store’s fenced-in Dumpster area, and discovered gone the next morning.

Rumford Detective Sgt. Stacy Carter said Tuesday that police got a break in the case at 12:15 p.m. Saturday. That’s when Rumford firefighters responded to a Spruce Street apartment for a furnace problem, and spotted the stolen sign inside the apartment.

Firefighters called police, and Patrolman David Bean responded. Carter said that Bean recovered the sign, then interviewed Smith and Collins before arresting them.

As for Chester, the sign was returned to its display spot Tuesday.