Artist says thieves likely stole huge sculpture thinking it was copper
Chris Moore's sculpture, worth $50,000, was stolen from his studio in Oratia yesterday morning.
His neighbour initially believed it was him when they heard noises around 6am, but "when he realised it wasn't, he turned the lights on, and I think that startled the people who were stealing it, and they took off up the road".
His neighbour got in their car to follow the vehicle and watched as the artwork, which was not entirely on the trailer, got dragged up the road. However, he lost the thieves before he could get the plate number.
Moore said the finisher used on his sculptures resembled bronze, and the only reason it would be stolen was if the thieves believed it was made of copper.
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"I don't think it would be worth the risk [otherwise] because it's so noticeable and so massive."
Chris Moore. (Source: Chrismoore.nz)
Although it was the first time anything had been stolen from his studio, Moore said that one of his public pieces displayed in Auckland Botanic Gardens had pieces cut off and taken before.
Moore now hoped that the thieves realised that the material was not bronze and decided to dump it somewhere instead of destroying it for parts.
"Because I think the scrap value if they cut it up, they'd get somewhere between $50 to $100, so it wouldn't even cover the petrol costs.
"I don't think they'd be able to sell it [as it is]. I mean, even I've had trouble".
Moore has been making sculptures full-time for three years, and this piece has been exhibited at Sculpture OnShore in Devonport.
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He said he has to invest all his time and money into creating pieces he's passionate about, and losing this piece would mean he would lose part of his annual income.
"I've sold everything I've made, sometimes it takes a while, but eventually someone was gonna come and buy that."
Moore had hope the sculpture could be found and said police had found tools left behind by the perpetrators, as well as security footage from a camera across the road, which happened to be pointed directly towards the incident.
A police spokesperson said that enquiries into the theft are ongoing at this stage, and there are no updates.
Anyone who has information can contact the Police via 105.
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