Man Who Stole Johann Christian Oerter Rifle Sentenced

[Okie Hog]

Did the thief preserve the rifle with oil or grease to preserve it’s condition.

He must have taken good care of the rifle, it's on display.

 

[OldMaineWoodsman]

It's good to see stolen artifacts returned to museums or the original donors.

Many years ago, when the old Marine Corps Heritage Center was at the Washington Navy Yard a Beretta ** ****** was stolen from a display case. The thief managed to replace the firing pin and firing pin spring which had been removed prior to it going on display. He later shot himself in the leg while attempting to rob someone. You can't make this stuff up.

It took forever to get the pistol back, and even longer to properly remove all of the fingerprint dust from it, but it was nice to get it back into the collection.

The FBI actually has a small unit that is tasked with recovering stolen museum artifacts.

 

[toot]

bottom line he is a no good thief forever!! I don't think that makes him a very nice person? jmho.

 

[pajeepman]

Wish I had been to that barn sale. Only ever seen 1 flintlock for sale at a yard/barn sale and bought it for $50. Was loaded, and in good shape, and have fired it. TC renegade I think in .50. I know it's a short carbine just can't remember model right now.

I might have to go try and see it this week and if it I on display, I will post pictures. It's only 7 miles from me, drove past there yesterday twice. Didn't know the visitors center was back open. It had been closed for renovations for seemed like 2 year.

 

[Packrat]

Yes, I never read anything that he returned it, after he tried to sell it, things caught up with him. Than like the THIEF he is, he turned States Evidence to get a PLEA deal

 

[jime444]

It appears this guy had done this several times; many more I’m sure we’ll never know about. He should make and complete restitution; then, once the victims have been compensated. Hang him.

 

[tom in nc]

No sympathy from me. An old thief is a thief that has lived too long. Find a past crime to charge him with and try him for it/them. Needs a few years behind bars.

 

[James Dietz]

I have also been the victim of theft. An original Springfield trapdoor and a Remington rolling block. So, for me sympathy is not really there. I think we should not think of this guy as an 80-year-old but rather as the 30-year-old who committed the crime and robbed many people of the right to view it. He had 50 years to return it, anonymously, but chose not to. That is my take on that. But here is the more clinical aspect. I have been in the insurance business for 25 years with a specialty in antiquities and art. I have worked with many museums. If this item was insured and a payment was made, even a penny, it is now the property of the insurance company that made the payout. This is how several items of historical significance hit the private market. Is this good or bad? I really do not know. It would be sad if the Valley Forge Museum has to re-purchase the item in order to display it but who knows? Just my two cents on this.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

The way I read it is he stole it and then got caught. He didn't turn it in or fess up 30 years after the fact due to a pricked conscience.

 

[sportster73hp]

Would the statute of limitations run out on a theft 50 years ago and what was the value then and now? Sorry, just trying to understand the sentence.
Wonder if he shot the stolen items , displayed them , or just stashed them in the barn

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

I looked for a photo of it- Is this the rifle?
View attachment 106256

That looks like the one that was shown in the newspaper article, nice gun , huh!

 

[Okie Hog]

It would be sad if the Valley Forge Museum has to re-purchase the item in order to display it but who knows? Just my two cents on this.

The rifle was on loan to the museum when stolen.

"The rifle belongs to the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution. It was on loan to the Valley Forge State Park Museum when it was stolen. After it was returned in 2019, it was put on display at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia."

Man who stole Revolutionary-era rifle from museum decades ago sentenced to 1 day (msn.com)

 

[BadDaditood]

It appears this guy had done this several times; many more I’m sure we’ll never know about. He should make and complete restitution; then, once the victims have been compensated. Hang him.

I concur! Although hangins’ too good for him.
I have ZERO sympathy for thieves… murderers maybe but Zero for thieves.
Hang them at halftime.

 

[Miles42]

my post is what My parents called toughn in cheek.

 

[Muddly]

Wonder if the light sentence was cuz he said he was sorry....

 

[pamtnman]

He’s a Skook… no surprise

 

[toot]

why do so many people cry over criminals when they get cought??? mabey they would think different if it was them that got hit by them??? just mabey?????, no?

 

[OldMaineWoodsman]

Here is another happy ending at the U.S. Naval Academy Museum. From what I was told by the retired Senior Curator, it was originally believed to have been stolen from Bancroft Hall by a dismissed Midshipman.

It is now secure and on display within the museum galleries.

FBI — The Case of the Missing Civil War Sword

 

[Musketeer]

I'm just glad the old girl is back on display for all to enjoy. What blows me away is that this guy kept the thing for half a century. I stole a few things as a young kid in a couple moments of idiocy, but I soon 'fessed up and took my punishment, as the guilt didn't allow me to enjoy the things I'd stolen and was eating me up inside. That said, I think the punishment was fair enough in this case (assuming the judgment was made based upon his ability to actually come up with the financial restitution).

 

[pajeepman]

It's back on display at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia so I won't be going to see it this weekend. I hate going into Philly.