[MSN] Art show vandals caught by camera hidden in salmon sculpture

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Art show vandals caught by camera hidden in salmon sculpture 

The Associated Press 

Published: June 15, 2006 
Last Modified: June 15, 2006 at 08:37 AM 


ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Sculptures of salmon placed throughout downtown
Anchorage over the past two summers have been tempting targets for vandals. 


Police believed the people who destroyed and pilfered entries in the outdoor
show wouldn't be able to resist wrecking a cop-themed piece of art. They
outfitted a salmon statue in a police vest, handcuffs and a nightstick, then
mounted a hidden camera nearby.

Within hours, a 15-year-old girl and two others tore off the decoy
sculpture's nightstick and cuffs. Police later arrested the girl, charged
her with criminal mischief and theft and took her to McLaughlin Youth
Center.

The decoy, "COPper Salmon," stood among other pieces in the Wild Salmon on
Parade show, starting June 7.

Sgt. Roy LeBlanc and his wife created the sculpture of Alaska's most popular
fish, which also sported a duty belt, fake radio, sunglasses and a small bat
used to kill fish.

"Of course they would steal it, just to spite us," LeBlanc said Wednesday.

The name of the artist was listed as Joe Friday, the fictional detective on
the TV show "Dragnet" that was popular in the 1950s and '60s.

The camera filmed the girl as she struggled to snap off the belt, nightstick
and handcuffs, LeBlanc said. The images show her walking away with the
items, he said.

A downtown police officer recognized the girl in the video, and she was
arrested last week.

The project enlists artists to decorate two dozen salmon statues, which are
displayed around downtown Anchorage for the summer. In the fall, the fish
are auctioned off to raise tens of thousands of dollars for local charities.

Melinda Taylor, who is helping to run the show, said the police department's
fish is back on display at Town Square this week, and will be included in
the auction.

---

Information from: Anchorage Daily News, http://www.adn.com