Stolen Oscars Recovered

Tue., March 21, 2000

Two men who worked for the trucking company hired to deliver Academy Awards statues were charged with stealing the 55 Oscars, all but three of which were found over the weekend beside a trash bin by a man scavenging for valuables. Police said Monday the two men hoped to profit from Hollywood’s most valued trophy. Bruce Davis, Academy executive director, said the 52 statues recovered look fine and some probably will be awarded Sunday. Police said the Oscar theft was an inside job involving two 10-year employees of Roadway Express, the company hired to deliver the statues. Anthony Keith Hart and Lawrence Edward Ledent, both 38, were arrested Saturday and booked for investigation of grand theft. Anonymous tips received Saturday led police to the suspects, but detectives would not elaborate. In one of the oddest presentations in Oscar history, officers wheeled two carts loaded with the statues into a news conference by police Chief Bernard Parks. Officers slipped on rubber gloves to remove six of the Oscars from their packaging and set them on a table. Detectives and Academy officials said they did not know the whereabouts of the other three Oscars.

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Stolen Oscars Recovered

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

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