Bronze statue stolen in Covina; police blame scrap metal thieves

Scrap metal thieves have stolen a bronze statue from Covina, part of a collection of public art donated by a local developer, police said today.

The theft occurred in front of a bank building late Friday evening or early Saturday morning. Thieves apparently used a truck to drag the 300-pound statue until it broke loose from its base, said Sgt. Ray Marquez of the Covina Police Department.

The work, poured by artist David Spellerberg, depicts a boy joyously carrying an American flag with his leg kicking high in the air. The statue is worth at least $15,000 but as scrap metal would bring in perhaps $200, said Linda Logan, property manager for McIntyre Co., which commissioned the piece.

An upsurge of metal thefts prompted a flurry of state legislation this year. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a package of five bills last month to combat the problem.