FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Jordi Fabre]

In Pala Mineralis - October 2012 Newsletter we saw this note about a robbery in the California Mining and Mineral Museum.
We reproduce it here with the hope it could help to recover the stolen specimens.

[Riccardo Modanesi]

Hi Jordi!
What a disgrace! A mineralogical museum was robbed! Unbeliavable! The only hope we (and they!) have to recover the stolen specimens is they send us some photos of those crystals, by telling us the dimensions of every one. I don't think the thieves had time enough to reach the European market, unless they have a secret curier of. It's easier they remained in the States, maybe in a different State than California. Unless the museum denounced it to the Police by showing the photos of what was stolen, the thieves have an easy game in placing the specimens and achieve money this way. Of course in the next mineralogical expositions we have to be very very careful of the so-called "black market".
Greetings from Italy (and see you in Munich!) by Riccardo.

[GneissWare]

It seems the theft was mostly gold and gemstones. The gold can be sold if melted or broken up, and unless the gems are iconic, they will all be easy to sell without detection. It is surprising that armed park rangers are not at a site where millions of dollars of treasures are displayed and stored.

[Riccardo Modanesi]

Hi GneisWare!
Oh, thieves have the possibilities and the material suitable even for entering the secret tunnels of any National Bank all over the world and rob it all over, no matter how it is watched! In my country we say "they always know one thing more than the Devil"!
Greetings from Italy by Riccardo.