600-pound bronze moose among Calif. statue thefts

[March 29, 2011]  SAN DIEGO (AP) -- San Diego County authorities are looking for art thieves who have made off with at least 18 metal, wood and concrete statues -- including a 600-pound bronze moose.

The North County Times reports the thieves have stolen nearly $44,000 worth of lawn art since October. Most of the thefts occurred in San Marcos and Ramona.

The artworks included Buddha yard statutes, a life-sized aluminum colt, a 3-foot-tall statue of the Virgin Mary and a copper statue of three children, valued at $15,000.

Detectives suspect that the metal works may have been broken up and sold to recyclers, while the other pieces might have been resold.

[Associated Press]

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