Museum theft in Bethesda
The Ratner Museum in Bethesda was robbed of several large bronze sculptures worth approximately $90,000 over the weekend, according to the Montgomery County Police.
Unknown suspects removed several bronze structures from the museum's outside garden area between 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 14 and 11:00 a.m. on Jan. 16, according to police.
After the theft. (Montgomery County Police)
In total, six bronze works were removed or damaged during the theft, and only one piece was removed without damage, police said. The pieces each weigh about 40 pounds and are about a foot wide by two and a half feet in length.
Due to the careless nature of the theft, police saids, it is likely the bronze structures were stolen for their salvage or recycling value.
Police are asking art dealers and salvage yards to review the photographs of similar works to help identify the artwork.
By
Elizabeth Flock
| January 18, 2011; 9:22 AM ET
Categories:
Montgomery
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Perhaps the thief thought they were Copper.
Posted by: kernunnos1367 | January 18, 2011 12:51 PM | Report abuse
Economy please hurry up and recover; people are getting more desperate and crime is out of control...plaques was stolen off a hall and now a museum robbed...home evasions while people are home...
SMH
Posted by: shadon1 | January 18, 2011 1:31 PM | Report abuse
Shadon1, if you want the economy to recover, you should be fighting for the legalisation of Marijuana.
Once legal, it will create a lot of taxable jobs in the US.
There will be a reduction in the crime associated with drugs.
We'll be able to tax it and pay for rehab and other social programs.
Our police force will be able to focus on violent crimes.
Marijuana legalisation would be a boom to the US and its economy and end a great social injustice.
Posted by: MarilynManson | January 18, 2011 3:40 PM | Report abuse
Going from a sculpture theft to the legalization of marijuana? Well done!
Posted by: timbo88 | January 18, 2011 4:35 PM | Report abuse
Amazing how the thieves chose to target such an obscure location, given the abundance of scrap metal posing as sculpture littering the national mall area.
Posted by: nochildleft | January 18, 2011 5:55 PM | Report abuse
Hared, I think you may have inadvertantly omitted the T from your user ID.
Posted by: nochildleft | January 18, 2011 8:43 PM | Report abuse
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