TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Topeka police are looking for a 10-foot-tall bronze statue called “Forgiven Man” after it was stolen from a church.
The statue is a cubist depction of a man with his right forearm extended forward, his palm open and upward as though extending a helping hand.
The statue was stolen early Wednesday from a memorial garden in front of the First Congregational Church. Police say they received a call from a witness who saw two men load the statue into an extended-cab pickup truck.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that police say the bronze statue is worth $10,000. The thieves also did about $400 damage to a concrete bench and sign at the church.
The church’s pastor, Tobias Schlingensiepen, says he believes the statute is worth more than $10,000.
Schlingensiepen is the Democratic nominee for the 2nd Congressional District seat. But he says he’s sure the theft had nothing to do with politics.
Anyone with information may call detectives at 785-368-9400 or Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.
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Information from: The Topeka Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com. Auction Central News International contributed to this report.
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