Museum Theft in Bethesda

[Howard Hartman]

	DEPARTMENT OF POLICE MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION 2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17, 2011	FOR MORE INFORMATION:                         Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Museum Theft in Bethesda

Send  an Online Tip or send the police a Text Tip

Updated Information

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police – Bethesda Investigative Section are asking the public’s assistance in locating and identifying the suspect(s) responsible for a theft of several pieces of bronze art from a museum in Bethesda.

Yesterday at 11:00 a.m., 2nd District officers responded to the Ratner Museum which is located at 10001 Old Georgetown Road in North Bethesda for the report of a theft. Responding officers learned that the between 6:00 p.m. on January 14, 2011 and 11:00 a.m. on January 16, 2011 unknown suspect(s) had removed several large bronze sculptures from the outside garden area. Six bronze works were removed or damaged during the theft. Only one piece appears to have been removed without damage. Due to the careless nature of the theft it is likely they were stolen for their salvage or recycling value. The pieces each weigh about 40 pounds and are about a foot wide by two and a half feet in length. The museum estimates the value lost or damaged is approximately $90,000. Art dealers and salvage yards in particular are asked to review the two attached photographs of similar works to help identify the artwork.

Anyone who has information about this incident and/or suspect is asked to call the Bethesda Investigative Section at 301-657-0112 or the 2nd District at 301-652-9200. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers may pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and/or indictment of the suspect in this crime

Text-a-Tip Program
Type “MCPD” plus the tip on your cell phone or PDA and text it to 274637 (CRIMES). The text message is encrypted and an alias is generated, masking the identity of the sender from the police. The police have no way of determining the user’s identity. An anonymous 2 way dialogue is possible with investigators.

10001 Old Georgetown Road in North Bethesda

Stolen Art Photos

[Howard Hartman]

	DEPARTMENT OF POLICE MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION 2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2011	FOR MORE INFORMATION:                         Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Update        Update        Update      Update

Warrant for Suspect for Theft
from Museum in Bethesda

Updated Information

On Monday, January 17, Detectives from the Montgomery County Police 2nd District Investigative Section asked the public for assistance to locate five stolen bronze works of art and to identify the suspect(s) responsible for the theft. They had been taken from the Phillip Ratner Museum of Art located at 10001 Old Georgetown Road in North Bethesda.

A suspect was identified early yesterday evening. He had sold the damaged sculptures early Saturday morning for approximately $150 to Montgomery Scrap and Recycling located in Rockville. After a store representative became aware that what they had purchased were stolen sculptures, he contacted police. This evening a warrant was obtained for Daniel Conticchio, age 27, of the 4500 block of 9th Street in northwest Washington, D.C., charging him with five counts of theft between $10,000 and $100,000 in value, two counts of attempted theft between $10,000 and $100,000 in value, and malicious destruction of property valued over $500.

The remains of the works of art were returned to the museum, but were damaged beyond repair.

On Monday, January 17 at 11:00 a.m., 2nd District officers responded to the museum for the report of the theft. Responding officers learned that the art work was last seen in the garden at 6:00 p.m. on January 14, 2011, and discovered missing at 11:00 a.m. on January 16, 2011. An unknown suspect(s) had removed five large bronze sculptures from the outside garden area, and damaged two others that were left behind. One bronze sculpture was taken without damage. The other four were damaged as they were removed during the theft. Due to the careless nature of the removal it was believed likely that they were stolen for their salvage or recycling value. The pieces each weighed about 40 pounds and were about a foot wide by two and a half feet in length. The museum estimated the value of the seven sculptures at approximately $90,000. Detectives asked art dealers and salvage yards in particular to review e-mailed photographs of similar artworks to help identify the stolen artwork.

Montgomery County Police would like to thank the members of the media who helped publicize this theft of art and believe that the exposure through the media aided them in identifying the suspect. Police would also like to caution owners of art works made of semi-precious metals that are displayed outside, that these metals are being targeted for thefts for their salvage value.

[Howard Hartman]

	DEPARTMENT OF POLICE MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION 2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2011	FOR MORE INFORMATION:                         Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Update        Update        Update      Update

Suspect in Custody for Thefts from
Museum in Bethesda

Updated Information

Late this afternoon, members of the Montgomery County Police Special Assignment Team located Daniel Conticchio, age 27, of the 4500 block of 9th Street in northwest Washington, D.C., the suspect wanted for the theft of works of art from the Dennis and Phillip Ratner Museum located at 10001 Old Georgetown Road in North Bethesda. He was found sleeping in his car in the parking lot that serves the Wildwood Shopping Center located at Old Georgetown Road and Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda. He was taken into custody on the strength of an arrest warrant, and is currently being interviewed by detectives.

Conticchio was identified early yesterday evening, January 19, as the suspect responsible for this crime. It was learned that he had sold the damaged sculptures early Saturday morning for approximately $150 to Montgomery Scrap and Recycling located in Rockville. After a store representative became aware that what they had purchased were stolen sculptures, he contacted police. Yesterday evening a warrant was obtained for Conticchio, charging him with five counts of theft between $10,000 and $100,000 in value, two counts of attempted theft between $10,000 and $100,000 in value, and malicious destruction of property valued over $500.

The remains of the works of art were returned to the museum, but were damaged beyond repair to their original state.

On Monday, January 17, Detectives from the Montgomery County Police 2nd District Investigative Section asked the public for assistance to locate five stolen bronze works of art and to identify the suspect(s) responsible for the theft.

It was on January 17 at 11:00 a.m., that 2nd District officers responded to the museum for the report of the theft. Responding officers learned that the art work was last seen in the garden at 6:00 p.m. on January 14, 2011, and discovered missing at 11:00 a.m. on January 16, 2011. An unknown suspect(s) had removed five large bronze sculptures from the outside garden area, and damaged two others that were left behind. One bronze sculpture was taken without damage. The other four were damaged as they were removed during the theft. Due to the careless nature of the removal it was believed likely that they were stolen for their salvage or recycling value. The pieces each weighed about 40 pounds and were about a foot wide by two and a half feet in length. The museum estimated the value of the seven sculptures at approximately $90,000. Detectives asked art dealers and salvage yards in particular to review e-mailed photographs of similar artworks to help identify the stolen artwork.

Montgomery County Police would again like to thank the members of the media who helped publicize this theft of art and believe that the exposure through the media aided them in identifying the suspect. Police would also like to caution owners of art works made of semi-precious metals that are displayed outside, that these metals are being targeted for thefts for their salvage value.

[Howard Hartman]

	DEPARTMENT OF POLICE MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION 2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2011	FOR MORE INFORMATION:                         Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Update        Update        Update      Update

Second Suspect in Custody with Charges
Pending for Thefts from Museum in Bethesda

Suspect Photos

Late this afternoon, members of the Montgomery County Police Special Assignment Team located Daniel Conticchio, age 27, of the 4500 block of 9th Street in northwest Washington, D.C., the suspect wanted for the theft of works of art from the Dennis and Phillip Ratner Museum located at 10001 Old Georgetown Road in North Bethesda. He was found sleeping in his car in the parking lot that serves the Wildwood Shopping Center located at Old Georgetown Road and Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda. At the time of his arrest he was in possession of controlled dangerous substance (CDS) paraphernalia. He was taken into custody on the strength of an arrest warrant for the thefts of art work, and was interviewed by detectives.

At the time of Conticchio’s arrest, Jessica Rivas, age 22, of an unconfirmed address, was also in Conticchio’s vehicle, and was also arrested and charged with possession of CDS paraphernalia. Rivas was with Conticchio when he sold the damaged art works as scrap metal. Charges of conspiracy to commit theft and theft of the art work from the museum are pending for Rivas.

Both Conticchio and Rivas were transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit. Bond information is not yet available.

Conticchio was identified early yesterday evening, January 19, as the suspect responsible for this crime. It was learned that he had sold the damaged sculptures early Saturday morning for approximately $150 to Montgomery Scrap and Recycling located in Rockville. After a store representative became aware that what they had purchased were stolen sculptures, he contacted police. Yesterday evening a warrant was obtained for Conticchio, charging him with five counts of theft between $10,000 and $100,000 in value, two counts of attempted theft between $10,000 and $100,000 in value, and malicious destruction of property valued over $500.

The remains of the works of art were returned to the museum, but were damaged beyond repair to their original state.

On Monday, January 17, Detectives from the Montgomery County Police 2nd District Investigative Section asked the public for assistance to locate five stolen bronze works of art and to identify the suspect(s) responsible for the theft.

It was on January 17 at 11:00 a.m., that 2nd District officers responded to the museum for the report of the theft. Responding officers learned that the art work was last seen in the garden at 6:00 p.m. on January 14, 2011, and discovered missing at 11:00 a.m. on January 16, 2011. An unknown suspect(s) had removed five large bronze sculptures from the outside garden area, and damaged two others that were left behind. One bronze sculpture was taken without damage. The other four were damaged as they were removed during the theft. Due to the careless nature of the removal it was believed likely that they were stolen for their salvage or recycling value.

The pieces each weighed about 40 pounds and were about a foot wide by two and a half feet in length. The museum estimated the value of the seven sculptures at approximately $90,000. Detectives asked art dealers and salvage yards in particular to review e-mailed photographs of similar art works to help identify the stolen art work. That outreach paid off with the identification of the responsible suspects.

Daniel Conticchio

Jessica Rivas