WWI Fieldpiece Stolen From Richmond Veterans Hall Found In Martinez Thursday
UPDATE: 8 a.m. Thursday – NEWS24/680 has confirmed that the missing field piece has been located in the City of Martinez. We are currently unsure of its condition or if any arrests have been made in connection with its theft. We’ll update this story as more information becomes available.
A vaunted World War I-era fieldpiece which has stood silent sentry duty outside the Richmond Veterans Hall since the late 1940s was snagged in less than a minute by thieves who cut through anchor chain and hauled the 105mm howitzer away behind a pickup truck.
Richmond police, and local veterans, are less than amused and the search is on for the thieves who made off with the wheeled gun, last seen being trundled off behind a blue pickup early Sunday morning, May 1.
The thieves, driving a teal or blue midsize to full size pickup with grey or silver rear bumper and wheels, backed up to the field gun amidst the tents and stands erected in preparation for the city’s Cinco de Mayo celebration and did not appear to have any problem cutting through a tethering length of chain.
The 1 ton, 5-foot iron and brass fieldpiece with its distinctive angled front shield joins a long list of historic cannon, monuments, and other metal objects taken from local cemeteries and historic sites across the country in recent years.
Richmond police ask anyone who sees the gun or knows who may have taken it to call Detective Kaiser at (510) 965-4966.
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My grandfather was chief of police in our small town. Back in the 60’s, a historically-significant cannon went missing from the front lawn of the town library. For months the cannon was nowhere to be found, until winter came, when my grandfather — still chief of police — discovered it in the tall grass in his own back yard. At his funeral some 30 years later, the offenders, who happened to be his own sons, came clean. I’m sure it’ll turn up.
Let’s hope so. Other objects taken in recent years have ended up in the scrapyard or recycling center.
The detective in charge of finding a World War One cannon is Detective Kaiser?
Yes, it is.
I hope they find it.
And his tough guy partner – Black Jack Pershing.
…. and those caissons keep rolling along……
Over there, over there,
Send the word, send the word over there,
That the Cops are coming, the Cops are coming,
Hide that gun, hide that gun – anywhere!
Hang the bastards that stole it. Just my opinion but I’m sticking to it.
Something tells me they have done this before.
Hey – the 4th of July is just around the corner. That thing would really wake up the neighborhood!
A cannon. They stole a cannon.
Hope its all in one piece.
We do, too.
was it melted? did they arrest the bad guys??
Looks like it may have been stolen to order with a man in Martinez reportedly paying for a gun he may not have known was stolen.
First with this again I see. Really thought it was going into the smelter.
If the article for sale arrives still padlocked to a piece of chain link fence, walk away.
Is it confirmed that the buyer took delivery and paid for this stolen antique?