Investment fraud accused Bernard Madoff gets ethics lesson from statue thieves

WALL Street financier Bernard Madoff, accused of masterminding a massive investment fraud, has been handed an ethics lesson by thieves who stole a statue from his Florida mansion, then promptly returned it.

Thieves swiped a $US10,000 ($14,400) statue from Mr Madoff's estate near Palm Beach but dropped it off at a nearby country club where he was a member with a note signed "The Educators".

According to the Palm Beach Post it read: "Bernie the Swindler, Lesson: Return Stolen Property to rightful owners. Signed by - The Educators."