FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Tobi]

[rweaver]

Mary,
Thank you for the update. It has been a very long time since I have been to the Museum and you folks have done a wonderful job in building up the collection.

Bob

[Tobi]

An updated report on Mindat:

https://www.mindat.org/a/Stolen_tourmaline_from_fallbrook_gem_and_mineral_museum

[Pierre Joubert]

Thanks Tobi. I hope they catch these criminals. There have been a number of mineral-related thefts in SA the last decade, and in most cases, even with overwhelming evidence against them, the criminals have not been convicted and punished.

[Mary FongWalker]

UPDATE ON BURGLARY AT FALLBROOK GEM & MINERAL MUSEUM
Some of the Tourmaline Specimens Stolen from the Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Museum have been recovered.

The Laguna Beach Police arrested suspect Edward Torrison of Oceanside, California, on September 26th. He has pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of grand theft and one count of receiving stolen property. He was sentenced, for his crimes in Orange County, to 32 months in state prison.

The burglary and theft at the Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Museum is still an ongoing investigation and charges have not yet been filed. Authorities in San Diego are still building their case and continuing their search for accomplices.

RECOVERED
Examination of evidence confiscated by the Laguna Beach City Police confirmed that three of the five major mineral specimens stolen from the Fallbrook museum have been recovered:

• One of the 9-inch Tourmaline specimen from the Cryo-Genie Mine and the Tourmaline & Quartz specimen from the Queen Mine Mine (3.15 inches tall) were both recovered intact with minimal damage.

• The 9-inch Tourmaline from the Cryo-Genie mine with the sidecar crystal has been destroyed. It was sawn into pieces and only a small portion remains. This wanton destruction of this major mineral specimen is heartbreaking.

• Of the "rough & cut" sets that were also taken, most of the quartz bases themselves were recovered. While some of the specimens and gemstones have been recovered, others are definitely missing.

STILL MISSING
Neither the 6-inch Tourmaline, Quartz & Lepidolite specimen from the Pala Chief Mine , nor the 6-inch Tourmaline on Quartz from the Tourmaline Queen Mine were located. They are still missing. A generous REWARD for information leading to the recovery these stolen pieces is being offered. Please call (760) 728-1130.

The Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society is grateful that at least some of the specimens have been recovered. We can only hope that these other specimens will be found.

Please help us recover from this burglary and theft by reporting any suspicious sales or activities to Detective Joel Couch, San Diego County Sheriff at (760) 451-3109 and refer to case #17147235.

[Mary FongWalker]

This is the larger of the Tourmaline Queen specimens - it is still missing

[Mary FongWalker]

This is the suspect, Edward Torrison, that has been apprehended and convicted of other robberies. He had some of the Fallbrook specimens in his possession, along with other minerals, gems and jewelry that he had stolen. We are providing his image just in case other people in the mineral community may have additional information that will aid in developing additional charges. The Fallbrook case is still an open investigation.