Historic metals stolen from museum

EAST WINDSOR, Conn. (WWLP) - Connecticut police are looking for whoever stripped copper and brass out of three historic trolley cars at the Connecticut Trolley Museum.

These weren't just any pieces of metal stolen, these were pieces dating back more than a century that if not returned, can never truly be replaced.

The trolleys at the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor are some of the oldest, dating back to the early 1900s.

Simply put, they're irreplaceable.

This weekend, volunteers discovered someone stripped some of the cars of their historic copper and brass components.

Xian Clere, a Connecticut Trolley Museum Board Member, said three of its cars now require extensive work, problem is, the museum is a non-profit and they don't have the money.

"When parts like this are stolen, it's very difficult for us to recoup the losses. It's very possible if a car like this has parts stolen, we may not be running for many years. The car might be out of service for a long time," Clere said.

Springfield police told the 22News I-Team last year that when the economy is bad, metal thefts like this become more common as it's a way to make fast cash if you can find a scrap yard to buy it from you.

In many cases when metal is stolen from a home or a business, those pieces can be replaced. The problem in the case of the trolley museum is these were historic pieces. They can be replicated, but they'll never be the original.

Due to the importance of the stolen metal, scrap yards in Western Massachusetts are now on high alert for the historic pieces.

"We do business with the trolley museum, we know what their material looks like and should someone come in with some of that material, we would know what it was," said Bruce Robinovitz, R&R Industries, Springfield.

Clere says the theft is an upset and he hopes whoever took the pieces will decide to give them back.

"We've been around a long time and a lot of people know bout the trolley museum and we want to keep the history alive here at the museum," he added.

Below is a description provided by the museum of what specifically was taken. Anyone with information regarding this theft, as well as anyone who may see suspicious activity around the museum, to contact the East Windsor Police Department 860-292-8240.

"Thieves were able to peel back a section of the metal siding on the barn to gain access.

Once inside, crowbars were used to pry brass pieces off of the ceilings, windows, and exterior of these wooden cars doing extensive damage to the woodwork.

Also, wiring was cut and some of the control gear was stripped out of the cars.

The three cars that were stripped include car 1326 (the museum’s Birthday Car), car 840 (the last open car to operate in revenue service in the United States), and car 101 (a freight motor that the museum acquired in 2009). Now, all three will require extensive work before they can be returned to operation for museum patrons to enjoy. Parts were missing from a fourth car in the barn that was already partially disassembled.  In addition, the lock was cut on a track tool shed to gain access; however, it does not appear that any track materials were stolen."