UPDATE: Police Hunt Thieves Who Stole Makeshift Fairy Village In Hoboken

HOBOKEN, NJ — Even if you don't believe in fairies — or, for that matter, affordable housing — why would you want to steal an entire miniature village from a drab industrial site?

That's what an artist and the Hoboken police want to know.

Earlier this year, someone set up, on a dilapidated construction site across from the Hoboken ShopRite, a miniature village containing tiny houses and a miniature pirate ship (see photo gallery below). It was similar to fairy houses that have popped up in Weehawken and, further away, at the Fairy Trail at the South Mountain Reservation in Millburn.

But last week, most of the village disappeared, and then more of it was removed.

The artist then constructed signs asking why, and posted flyers with the police investigation case number.

Signs near the site say that the police are seeking information about both the initial theft on April 4, and a subsequent theft of more materials two days later.

In the past, store owners have theorized that thefts of unusual objects in the mile-square city — such as a lifesize Frank Sinatra sign advertising a bagel shop and the huge cow outside Ben & Jerry's — were part of a fraternity prank, but police did not confirm it at the time. READ MORE: Big Cow Is Home And Hiding After Theft From Hoboken Ben & Jerry's

Patch reached out Tuesday to the person who posted the flyers about the filched fairyland, and has not yet gotten a response. The story will be updated when more information is received.

Below are the before and after photos.

Unsolved Mysteries Update:

On Thursday, a police spokesperson said that police determined that a contractor had been sent to "clean up" the dilapidated property.

A commenter below doubted this, noting that the rest of the scene still appears dilapidated. The commenter, who said she was the artist in question, also would like her things back.

After the property had been "cleaned up":

Got thoughts? Post them below.