Heist or hijinx? 1800s statue goes missing from Georgetown museum

Hotel de Paris is missing

Putti with Pan, a statue from the 1800s

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e tracks along the snow-covered roof told o cers the crime couldn’t have happened much more than 48 hours prior to inspection, but who could have carried the 40-pound statue o without being noticed?

A statue was stolen from the Hotel de Paris museum in Georgetown sometime on or before March 4, according to Kevin Kuharic, executive director of the museum.

After exiting the restroom on March 4, Kuharic noticed the Putti with Pan statue was missing. His rst thought was the wind blew it o the roof. After inspecting the premise, he realized it was something more sinister.

“I quickly realized it was nowhere to be found, so I contacted the Georgetown police,” he said.

Georgetown police arrived at the scene and carried out an investigation for the missing art. ey analyzed footprints, and o cers found that suspect/s accessed the roof on the south side of the annex, which allowed access to the statue located on the roof of the west courtyard wall.

Georgetown Police Sergeant John e statue resembles a bird bath, is about 36-40 inches tall and weighs 40 pounds. It was made in 1890 and is a part of a pair of culturally signi cant statues at the museum, according to Kuharic. is isn’t the rst time someone attempted to abscond with a piece from the museum. In 1954, the year the Hotel de Paris became a museum, some kids tried to steal a lion statue. Ultimately, the kids damaged the statue but never got it o the property, according to Kuharic.

Gaskins responded to the incident. Based on the footprints he examined, Gaskins believed the impressions revealed a timeline for the theft.

“I do believe it could’ve been within two or three days of the report,” he said.

Kuharic isn’t convinced this theft is the same kind of pubescent prank. He believes someone strategically removed it, heist-style.

“It appears someone scoped out the item,” he said.

But what could someone want with a glori ed 1800s bird bath? Well, Kuharic said it could fetch you a bit of money on the lawn ornament black market.

“An item like this would be highly desirable as a garden ornament,” he explained.

Truthfully, the museum just wants the statue back. e museum is a Site of the National Trust for Historic replace it.”

Hotel de Paris was a hotel originally opened by French immigrant Louis Dupuy in 1875. A man with a criminal history himself, the museum won’t forget its ties to Dupuy, who struggled before he found success.

“ e story of Louis Dupuy is that of second chances,” Gaskins explained. “( e museum) agreed that if someone would return the statue, there would be no questions asked.”

Denver Skates Shop gets fresh start in Olde Town Arvada

Arvada skaters of all varieties now have a new spot for all their gear, maintenance and training needs. Denver Skates Shop in Olde Town opened its doors for a soft opening on March 6 and will host a grand opening on April 1.

e shop, as the name suggests, caters to all conduits of skating; quads, inlines and skateboards.

Owner Afton Hill said the shop will be a retail store, maintenance shop and the site of lessons for skating and roller dancing. e shop will also o er skatepark lessons.

Hill said her goal for the shop is to become a one-stop shop for all skating needs — including getting the fundamentals down in order to safely cruise around.

“It’s somewhere you can come, try good skates on, and get a free 30-minute lesson with your rst pair of skates,” Hill said. “It’s important to build your foundation, your con dence — skating for the rst time can be like Bambi on ice.