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CSRM Break In, Attempted Golden Spike Theft
Author: defect_detector
Date: 03-06-2014 - 21:33
Surprised it hasn't been brought up on here yet. Couple of broken windows and someone going to town on the display case with a sledge hammer (which is built out of 1" thick plexiglass).
[www.kcra.com]
"SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —Thieves broke into the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento and tried unsuccessfully to steal the museum's Golden Spike, according to museum officials.
By Thursday afternoon, crews had patched a window pane in the museum's south wall that the burglars had apparently smashed overnight in order to gain access to the building.
Curtains and guards surrounded a corner of the first floor where officials said a display case had been smashed.
"That (case) houses, during the day when it's presented, the Lost Spike that's in the museum," said Steve Van Etten, a peace officer supervisor for the State Parks Department, which manages the museum.
According to an article written by a State Parks employee, the spike is 9 1/2 inches long, weighs 14.2 ounces and is made of 17 6/10 carat gold, alloyed with copper.
The Lost Spike is a twin of the Last Spike, which was driven in 1869 at Promontory, Utah, to celebrate the completion of the first transcontinental railroad.
Few people knew of the Lost Spike's existence until the museum purchased it from a private collection in 2005.
The museum said the spike is considered priceless but could not immediately say if it was insured for a specific amount.
"It seems like kind of a rotten thing to do. That's all I can say," said Mike Nicholson of Loomis, who visited the museum with his family.
Van Etten said additional, unspecified security measures prevented the thieves from reaching the spike.
He said the museum does have an alarm system and that it functioned properly in this case.
However, he also said that the break-in was not discovered until this morning.
"When maintenance crews came in this morning, that's when they noticed the glass and a few other things broken down on the other side," Van Etten said.
"Oh my gosh. That's strange. One would think it's radioed out or telephoned out somewhere, wouldn't you?" said Rick Fisher of Stockton after visiting the museum.
Museum officials did not immediately comment about whether security guards were on duty at the time of the burglary.
Sacramento police investigators were on scene Thursday morning to gather evidence but no suspect has been identified.
The museum remained opened as usual."
[www.kcra.com]
"SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —Thieves broke into the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento and tried unsuccessfully to steal the museum's Golden Spike, according to museum officials.
By Thursday afternoon, crews had patched a window pane in the museum's south wall that the burglars had apparently smashed overnight in order to gain access to the building.
Curtains and guards surrounded a corner of the first floor where officials said a display case had been smashed.
"That (case) houses, during the day when it's presented, the Lost Spike that's in the museum," said Steve Van Etten, a peace officer supervisor for the State Parks Department, which manages the museum.
According to an article written by a State Parks employee, the spike is 9 1/2 inches long, weighs 14.2 ounces and is made of 17 6/10 carat gold, alloyed with copper.
The Lost Spike is a twin of the Last Spike, which was driven in 1869 at Promontory, Utah, to celebrate the completion of the first transcontinental railroad.
Few people knew of the Lost Spike's existence until the museum purchased it from a private collection in 2005.
The museum said the spike is considered priceless but could not immediately say if it was insured for a specific amount.
"It seems like kind of a rotten thing to do. That's all I can say," said Mike Nicholson of Loomis, who visited the museum with his family.
Van Etten said additional, unspecified security measures prevented the thieves from reaching the spike.
He said the museum does have an alarm system and that it functioned properly in this case.
However, he also said that the break-in was not discovered until this morning.
"When maintenance crews came in this morning, that's when they noticed the glass and a few other things broken down on the other side," Van Etten said.
"Oh my gosh. That's strange. One would think it's radioed out or telephoned out somewhere, wouldn't you?" said Rick Fisher of Stockton after visiting the museum.
Museum officials did not immediately comment about whether security guards were on duty at the time of the burglary.
Sacramento police investigators were on scene Thursday morning to gather evidence but no suspect has been identified.
The museum remained opened as usual."
CSRM Break In, Attempted Golden Spike Theft