The warrior was a symbol of martial strength, molded from terra cotta and buried more than 2,000 years ago with China’s first emperor to defend him in the afterlife.
The statue was helpless, however, against a man in a green sweater and a Phillies hat who, the authorities say, sneaked into a closed-off area during a party at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and stole its thumb.
The man, who was attending the museum’s after-hours ugly-sweater party on Dec. 21, entered the terra-cotta warrior exhibition room and used his cellphone’s flashlight to view the displays. Then, according to an affidavit by Jacob B. Archer, a special agent assigned to the F.B.I.’s art crime team, the man put his arm around the statue and took a selfie.
The authorities said the man, later identified as Michael Rohana, then went for a more permanent memento. He grabbed the left hand of the statue, which is valued at $4.5 million, and broke off its thumb. Taking the piece with him, he left with friends for his home in Bear, Del.
Mr. Rohana, 24, was charged last week in Philadelphia with theft of an artwork from a museum, concealment of the artwork and interstate transportation of stolen property. He was released on bail.
Advertisement Continue reading the main story
A lawyer for Mr. Rohana could not immediately be reached for comment.
Mr. Archer said he had visited Mr. Rohana at his home. When asked if he had anything he wanted to hand over, Mr. Rohana said he had a finger, which the F.B.I. agent retrieved from a desk in the man’s bedroom.
Buzzkill1591 on February 19th, 2018 at 21:57 UTC »
This was bound to happen. Ive worked at a ton of private events and parties in Houston's Fine Arts Museum, and im surprised at how relax and loose security detail is during those events and rooms that are left unattended by security. I know this because I would sneak into those unattended rooms to catch a break for a minute.
dreaminsleepin on February 19th, 2018 at 20:54 UTC »
What a fucking idiot
JimmyMcGillicuddy on February 19th, 2018 at 20:50 UTC »
In the event you are captured while being a dumbass, we will disavow all knowledge of you and your status as a U.S. citizen.