[MSN] Family members are worried the larger than life sized bronze statues taken from the John Henry Waddell property in Cornville last week may have been plundered for their scrap metal value.

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

2/21/2007 4:00:00 
Bronze sculptures stolen for scrap?

By JON HUTCHINSON
Staff Reporter

Family members are worried the larger than life sized bronze statues taken
from the John Henry Waddell property in Cornville last week may have been
plundered for their scrap metal value.

The statuary includes nine pieces that reportedly weigh between 500 and
1,500 pounds each. In addition to two individual nude female forms, a
cluster dubbed "Generations" includes seven pieces.

All of the works were located in a six acre sculpture garden on a ridge
above the Waddell home on Spring Creek in Cornville. Waddell says he and his
wife would have been out of earshot if heavy equipment had been used to move
the pieces from the sculpture garden.

The bronze pieces are valued from $700,000 to $900,000 and Waddell has
personally offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to their
recovery.

Reportedly, large art works have been stolen for their scrap metal value.
Waddell estimates the value of the works taken from his property could fetch
$20,000 for its copper.

Scrap copper sells for as much as 90 percent of the cost of new copper.
British investigators suspect the metal is being sold in Asia or China

Four lifelike bronze sculptures were pried off their concrete bases at a
Santa Fe art gallery.

The head of a Ukrainian poet was found at a nearby smelter two days after
the giant statue was stolen from an Ontario park.

The United Kingdom has been plagued with theft of metal sold as scrap. In
one case, closed circuit TV caught thieves working for two hours to saw
through the base of two life-sized sculptures before they were carted away.

Henry Moore's "A Reclining Nude" is another among massive bronze pieces
stolen in Britain. The sculpture is worth $18 million, but $9,000 as scrap.

In New Orleans, thieves broke into the studio of artist John T. Scott and
used a bolt cutter, hacksaw and hammer to dismantle his sculptures in what
was called "industrial looting."

The New York Times reports that the thefts include everything from war
memorials to classical and contemporary pieces. The only thing they have in
common is that they are large and made of bronze.

Y.C.S.O. investigators are working to develop leads in this case. Any
persons with information are asked to contact the Yavapai County Sheriff's
Office at (928) 771-3260, or Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232.