SAN DIMAS >> A “beloved” bronze statue valued at $25,000 that has adorned the fountain in front of San Dimas City Hall for more than 15 years disappeared overnight in an apparent theft, officials said Friday.
A City Employee discovered shortly after 7 a.m. Friday morning at the fountain in front of San Dimas City Hall, 245 E. Bonita Ave., Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Andy Berg said.
Titled, “Catching Frogs,” the sculpture by renowned artist Vic Riesau was first dedicated in 1998 after being donated by former San Dimas city manager Robert Poff, according to the San Dimas Festival of Arts . The organization coincidentally was setting up for this weekend’s Wildlife and Landscape Art Show\ in the Robert L. Poff Gallery in the Community Building at city hall.
Shantel Baez of San Dimas immediately noticed the statue missing when she arrived at city hall. Two of her daughters played in front of the fountain as two of her sons took part in a karate class at the civic center.
“It’s terrible,” Baez said of the theft. “My kids love that statue. They played on it. They sat on it.”
“I feel so bad for the person who made it,” said Baez’s 9-year-old daughter, Giselle.
The motive for the theft is unknown, but the “beloved” sculpture may have been stolen merely for the value of the bronze it is made of, sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
“The artwork is very valuable, but may have been stolen for the value of the materials as scrap metal,” the statement said.
A thief or thieves stole a much smaller portion of the statue, a frog, the previous night, sheriff’s officials said. It was discovered missing Wednesday morning.
Investigators found no tire tracks near the fountain Friday, “but there’s a presumption of a vehicle,” Berg said.
The statue stood three feet tall and was made of solid bronze, he added. “Bolts were cut or broken with brute force.”
Maribel Gershman said she last sat the statue Thursday. When she found it missing Friday, she thought perhaps it was being cleaned or polished ahead of the Wildlife and Landscape Art Show.
“It’s really surprising,” she said upon learning the sculpture had been stolen. “It’s sad. It’s depressing. I feel kind of invaded.”
Gershman said her children also had spent lots of time playing around the fountain.
“We have several photos of the kids tossing their pennies in,” she said.
Both Gershman and Shantel Baez said they were taken aback by the boldness of the theft, which took place in an open courtyard in front of city hall.
“You don’t hear a lot of crime that goes on around here,” Baez said.
Anyone with information was asked to call the sheriff’s San Dimas Station at 909-450-2700.

PHOTOS by Brian Day and courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.