KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News-2 Arrested After Trying to Sell Stolen Art

2 Arrested After Trying to Sell Stolen Art

3.10.10

MORRO BAY – Sheriff's deputies arrested two people this week in connection with a string of bronze statue thefts in northern San Luis Obispo County.

They say the motive behind this is money. Bronze and brass metals can be worth a lot when they're cut down and turned into scrap metal.

A pile of dirt on the ground is all that's left of the signature four dolphin statue at Captain's Cove Inn, in Cambria. It was stolen last week.

"It was just a cute statue and now it's gone," says Captain's Cove owner David Renner.

Down the street at Seago art gallery a similar statue of dolphins is also missing.

The stolen statues are part of a string of thefts in northern San Luis Obispo County involving large bronze and brass art pieces.

On Monday deputies arrested Shelley Davis and Gustavo Dejesus. They say the pair had been stealing the pieces from front yards of homes, motels and displays. Then, they cut them into two to three foot pieces and tried to sell them to local salvage yards.

"Using brass and in some cases cast iron can sometimes get you some money as well and that's apparently what they were after," says San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Spokesman Rob Brynn.

The pair managed to steal around 40 thousand dollars worth of statues. Sheriff's officials say the pieces ranged from 250 dollars to upwards of nine thousand.

"It was just a nice statue and had they wanted to buy it we would have talked, but just to take it no that's wrong and it made me angry," says Renner.

For David Renner the piece didn't have a sentimental value it was really a decorative piece that welcomed guests. And even though it's been cut up and destroyed he wants to find it and have it back.

"They showed me pictures of what had been of portions of what had been turned into. The scrap yard wanting to see if i could identify it, but I couldn't it didn't match mine," says Renner.

Renner has contacted his insurance company but has not filed a claim. He's hoping his statue will turn up at a salvage shop and he can have it back. Unfortunately even if he does get it back it will likely be cut and damaged.

So far, seven statue thefts have been linked to Davis and Dejesus. Authorities say there could be more.