The King of Rock n’ Roll is back in the building.

An Elvis Presley bust that was swiped from a central Illinois bar has been returned after the story of its theft attracted international attention.

Employees at Jimmy’s Bar found the missing bust sitting on a porch outside the West Peoria saloon, the Peoria Journal Star reported. The theft had been discovered last Sunday morning.

“He’s back!” pub owner Jimmy Spears said early on Friday, attributing the bust’s return to the widespread attention its theft had attracted.

On Wednesday, the bar’s Facebook page had made an appeal for its return: “No questions asked.”

Spears said he was considering ways to improve security for the bust, but for now it is back in its familiar position overlooking the saloon and greeting customers at the centre of its long bar.

Spears, the bar’s owner for 39 years, said his niece bought the bust about 15 years ago at a garage sale for $20, and it soon became the business’ bar-top mascot.