Police seek return of items that once belonged to composer Victor Herbert

Posted: October 11, 2012

Saying they believe it may still be in the Philadelphia area, Lower Merion Township police are asking whoever has the $80,000 Victor Herbert shadow box stolen from a Bryn Mawr home last summer to return it without threat of arrest.

The display box contains the baton and other items belonging to the composer, renowned for his operettas around the turn of the 20th century.

It was stolen Aug. 24, along with a $3 million portrait bust of Benjamin Franklin, from a home in the 600 block of Black Rock Road, allegedly by a housekeeper.

Andrea Lawton, 46, is in federal custody, facing charges of transporting stolen property across state lines. She was arrested in Elkton, Md., in late September with the Franklin bust in her possession.

Police are pressing to recover the shadow box without having it damaged. Its owner is George A. D'Angelo, 85, a Philadelphia lawyer and art collector.

Police said in a statement issued Tuesday: "We are hoping that if someone has it or came upon it, that they will contact the police and return it.

"If this person was given, or purchased, this property, and did not know that it was stolen, they would not face charges."

Anyone with information may call the Lower Merion detective unit at 610-645-6228 or 610-645-6236.


Contact staff writer Bonnie L. Cook at 610-313-8232 or bcook@phillynews.com.

|
|
|
|
|