“Jackie Robinson statue cut down at the ankles, stolen from Wichita park” (UPDATE: Replacement statue unveiled.)

MrTailgate

Well-known member
Oct 19, 2021
889
1,660
93
Horrible. Hopefully there is surveillance somewhere around the statue and the perpetrators can be located. I hope that Rachel Robinson is not made aware of this nonsensical act.
 

NittPicker

Well-known member
Jun 30, 2001
4,786
9,750
113
Maybe the statue came to life and simply wanted to get the hell out of Wichita. 🤷‍♂️

But criminals often do dumb things without any racial motivation. I recall a couple decades ago when someone tried to steal the bull from the roof of the Boalsburg steak house (if it's even still there). They loosened the bolts then abandoned the plan after apparently realizing they had no way to get to bull from the roof to the ground. Either that or they planned to come back later with a crane.

It could have been some racist shitbags who took the statue in Wichita. Or maybe it wasn't. I'm sure the investigation will reveal the truth. I'll refrain from assuming anything.
 

BobPSU92

Well-known member
Aug 22, 2001
40,077
28,547
113
 
  • Like
Reactions: step.eng69

Lion84

Well-known member
Oct 7, 2021
463
665
93
Never underestimate the stupidity of drug addicts if that is the case here - trying to sell it for scrap - I had an Acela train I was on back from NYC stopped for 2 hours when an idiot climbed a pole and tried to cut a live wire down for the scrap copper - electrocuted himself.
 

BW Lion

Well-known member
Apr 9, 2020
3,103
2,436
113
As an African American I'm offended at the stupidity. Racist or addiction it doesn't really matter
I found your post very strange…

Who announces their ethnicity as their opening clause ? 🤷🏼‍♂️

Do I start all of my posts reminding everyone I’m a Tibetan Monk? 🙏
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: JohnJumba

BobPSU92

Well-known member
Aug 22, 2001
40,077
28,547
113
I looked at the park in Wichita on Google Maps. It is rather isolated. You have to figure that it took these a$$holes a while to cut down the statue and carry it to a vehicle. I saw no mention of security cameras nearby, and it seems that there were no eyewitnesses.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JohnJumba

PSU89er

Member
Nov 22, 2023
111
151
43
The statue reportedly weighed between 300 - 400 lbs. Scrap bronze sells for $2.00 - $2.50/lb. The potential resale reward vs risk of getting caught doesn't make much sense.
I have a friend who was a small business owner and did well. His wife got hooked on meth. They are split up now, he did all he could to save a 20 year marriage. She's been in jail, and she can't get clean. He recently moved half way across the country (Montana), she is still here. Before he left, she told a friend, that he was spying on her. He had tunneled under the house, and was looking at her through the TV.

Get back to me about risk/reward and making sense.
 

PSU87

Well-known member
Jun 8, 2001
1,766
3,651
113
I looked at the park in Wichita on Google Maps. It is rather isolated. You have to figure that it took these a$$holes a while to cut down the statue and carry it to a vehicle. I saw no mention of security cameras nearby, and it seems that there were no eyewitnesses.
You'd be surprised. The yard where i keep my boat has video cameras. They've recorded theives cutting the fence, using a sawzall to cut the transom, cables and hoses, and carrying out a 600lb outboard motor in under 10 minutes
 
Nov 10, 2011
1,885
3,187
113
You'd be surprised. The yard where i keep my boat has video cameras. They've recorded theives cutting the fence, using a sawzall to cut the transom, cables and hoses, and carrying out a 600lb outboard motor in under 10 minutes
I swear that at least monthly the local news reports a theft of metals, usually copper, at a either a construction site or a fully-operating industrial site. Sometimes there are several reports in a month.
 

JohnJumba

Well-known member
Jul 28, 2016
1,228
766
113
I have a friend who was a small business owner and did well. His wife got hooked on meth. They are split up now, he did all he could to save a 20 year marriage. She's been in jail, and she can't get clean. He recently moved half way across the country (Montana), she is still here. Before he left, she told a friend, that he was spying on her. He had tunneled under the house, and was looking at her through the TV.

Get back to me about risk/reward and making sense.

LOL!
 

BW Lion

Well-known member
Apr 9, 2020
3,103
2,436
113
I looked at the park in Wichita on Google Maps. It is rather isolated. You have to figure that it took these a$$holes a while to cut down the statue and carry it to a vehicle. I saw no mention of security cameras nearby, and it seems that there were no eyewitnesses.
An angle grinder with a diamond blade would require less than 20 seconds to cut through both ankles. However, the weight of the statue would require 2-3 males to carry it over to a vehicle.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PSU87

Nitt1300

Well-known member
Nov 2, 2008
378,948
10,794
113

Jackie Robinson statue found burned, destroyed after theft from youth baseball field​

The Jackie Robinson statue stolen from a youth baseball field in Wichita, Kansas, was found beyond repair Tuesday, with its remaining pieces in flames on the opposite side of the city.

The bronze fixture belonged to League 42, a program named in honor of the number Robinson wore when he became the first Black player in Major League Baseball.

After the figure was cut at the ankles and hauled away late Jan. 24, the city estimated damages to be $75,000. Wichita Police described the community as "devastated" and asked for the public's help locating the thieves.


On Tuesday morning, the statue was located when police were called to the scene of a dumpster fire at Garvey Park in North Wichita. Responders extinguished the blaze and discovered pieces of the sculpture in the smoke.

more: Jackie Robinson statue found burned, destroyed after theft from youth baseball field (yahoo.com)
 
Nov 10, 2011
1,885
3,187
113

Jackie Robinson statue found burned, destroyed after theft from youth baseball field​

The Jackie Robinson statue stolen from a youth baseball field in Wichita, Kansas, was found beyond repair Tuesday, with its remaining pieces in flames on the opposite side of the city.

The bronze fixture belonged to League 42, a program named in honor of the number Robinson wore when he became the first Black player in Major League Baseball.

After the figure was cut at the ankles and hauled away late Jan. 24, the city estimated damages to be $75,000. Wichita Police described the community as "devastated" and asked for the public's help locating the thieves.


On Tuesday morning, the statue was located when police were called to the scene of a dumpster fire at Garvey Park in North Wichita. Responders extinguished the blaze and discovered pieces of the sculpture in the smoke.

more: Jackie Robinson statue found burned, destroyed after theft from youth baseball field (yahoo.com)
Effing morons! I wonder if they realized they realized that they couldn't unload it for scrap without being turned in to the police. Whatever the case is, that was a hot dumpster fire.

Melting point of metals
  • Bronze: 1675 F (913 C). Bearing bronze contains mainly copper, lead, and zinc, bringing down its melting point to 1790 F (977 C). Silicon bronze is a low-lead brass alloy generally composed of 96% copper plus a small percentage of silicon. Its melting point is 1880 F (1025 C)

 

Nitt1300

Well-known member
Nov 2, 2008
378,948
10,794
113
Effing morons! I wonder if they realized they realized that they couldn't unload it for scrap without being turned in to the police. Whatever the case is, that was a hot dumpster fire.

Melting point of metals
  • Bronze: 1675 F (913 C). Bearing bronze contains mainly copper, lead, and zinc, bringing down its melting point to 1790 F (977 C). Silicon bronze is a low-lead brass alloy generally composed of 96% copper plus a small percentage of silicon. Its melting point is 1880 F (1025 C)

trying to figure out what mental defectives are thinking isn't easy