[Rockhounds] Stolen University of Michigan Gemstones

Frank Daniels cycadwood at aol.com
Mon Mar 24 21:25:21 PDT 2008 

Case solved. The moron took some of the minerals a few blocks way to a
jewelry store to be appraised. 

Suspect arrested in U-M gem thefts
Posted by Art Aisner | The Ann Arbor News March 24, 2008 15:26PM
Categories: Crime
. Previous story: Burglars hit U-M gem displays

By ART AISNER
The Ann Arbor News

University of Michigan police say they arrested a suspect in the theft of
dozens of semi-precious gems from displays on campus during two burglaries
last week, and they didn't have to go far do solve the case.

Michael Edward-Lopez Sherer, 27, was arraigned over the weekend on one count
of breaking and entering and another count of receiving and concealing
stolen property taken during burglaries at the C.C. Little Building on March
15 and 17.

The Eastern Michigan University student was arrested Friday while attempting
to have several pieces appraised at Abracadabra, a jewelry store and gem
gallery on East Liberty Street, just blocks from U-M's Central Campus, said
Lt. Robert Neumann.

An employee, who earlier that morning received photos of the missing
collection from a graduate student in the geology department, kept Sherer
occupied long enough until police arrived.

Officers recovered the gems from the store intact and believe they found all
of the remaining 68 items during searches of Sherer's car and on-campus
apartment at EMU, Neumann said. 


"A lot of hard work went into this but with a little luck that every case
needs, we got a very gratifying outcome," Neumann said.

Investigators also seized several knives, a violation of campus rules, and
suspected drug residue in the residence that will be submitted for lab
testing, said EMU Police Chief Greg O'Dell.

Sherer, a Saline native, remains jailed on $100,000 bond to await an April 2
preliminary court hearing. 

The collection consists of crafted gems, uncut minerals and several small
pieces, about an inch long or less, that is conservatively valued at at
least $20,000 but is believed to be significantly higher, department
officials said. 

Many were mined in the 1800s and were displayed by the department long
before officials consolidated the collection for building renovations in
1995, said Robert Patterercq, department administrator.

Patterer said the collection, pieced together over decades from around the
globe, is a significant department symbol and has great sentimental value to
faculty and staff.

"The various items we have on display is what makes geology, geology," he
said. "It's sort of what we're about, so there was a general sense of loss
and violation."

The department intends to share the collection with the public again, but
officials will meet with police later this week to discuss security concerns
and future displays.
Steve and Katherine Lesse, owners of Abracadabra, said Sherer first came to
the gallery with a gem a few days before the burglaries. About five days
later he returned with dozens of items that he said belonged to his father
and needed appraisals.

Steve Lesse said he could not accurately appraise them on site but took them
on consignment, intending to take them to a trade show in early April to
determine their value.

Sherer returned unexpectedly Friday morning saying he had a cash buyer and
needed them back, Lesse said.

It wasn't' until their employee matched the samples with the department that
they realized they were stolen from U-M.

"It sounded like a reasonable story, but he didn't think this out too well,"
Lesse said. "At least they got them back, because if we got that information
a half-hour later, that would've been it. They'd be gone."

Authorities issued a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and
conviction in the burglaries.


-----Original Message-----
From: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
[mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of Kreigh
Tomaszewski
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 9:38 PM
To: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Stolen University of Michigan Gemstones

I hope you have also posted this on MinDat.


Peter Sparks wrote:
> 
> http://www.mlive.com/ap/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-51/1205966355214980
> .xml&storylist=topstories
> 
> There was a recent break in at the University of Michigan's CC Little
> (geology) department and a number of specimens and gemstones were
> stolen.  Christ Stefano works in that department and has released a list
> of the items stolen.  There is a $1,000 reward being offered, and
> there's probably a more complete story somewhere on the web.  I've
> included a recent email that Chris sent and was forwarded through the
> Michigan's Midwest Federation's state director, Alan Hukill.
> 
> -- Peter Sparks
> zebulon at isr.umich.edu
> 
>         "Thanks a lot for helping me spread the word.  The specimens
> were stolen
>         from the display cases on the third floor of the building.  The
> only photos
>         that existed were old slides that have been digitized to produce
> individual
>         photos of the samples of variable, but generally somewhat poor
> quality.
>         The most notable and identifiable piece stolen was a smithsonite
> stalactite
>         approximately 9 inches long from Sardinia.  Photos and other
> information
>         about the theft will be posted soon on an FTP site at the
> department.
>         Anyone with pertinent information should contact myself
> (stefanoc at umich.edu),
>         Rod Ewing (rodewing at umich.edu), Sam Mukasa (mukasa at umich.edu)
>         or the detective working on the case Richard Zavala
> (richardz at umich.edu)."
> 
>         Christopher J. Stefano
>         PhD Candidate
>         University of Michigan
>         Department of Geological Sciences
>         1100 N. University Ave.
>         Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1005
>         3017 Clarence Cook little building
>         734-647-5533
>         stefanoc at umich.edu
> 
> Here's the list of items:
> 
> Specimens Stolen From C.C. Little 3/15 & 3/16, 2008
> Complaint #08-1064
> 
>     Apatite cut stone & crystal .778c- Pulsifer, Maine
>     Apatite cut stone & crystal- Durango, Mexico
>     Cordierite (iolite) .87 % 5.18c
>     Chrysoberyl .96c
>     Azurite & Malachite-Arizona
>     Malachite- Arizona
>     Beryl Aquamarine 7.71c
>     Beryl Aquamarine 8.89c
>     Beryl Aquamarine- Madagascar
>     Golden Beryl
>     Aragonite inlaid jewel box
>     Corundum sapphire
>     Corundum blue sapphire 4.32 & 1.08c
>     Corundum pink sapphire 3.8c
>     Corundum white sapphire
>     Corundum sapphire
>     Microcline feldspar amazonite pendant
>     Feldspar Labradorite
>     Oligoclase aventurine sunstone
>     Oligoclase aventurine
>     Oligoclase moonstone
>     Fluorite
>     Fluorite 126.3c
>     Garnet Uvarovite .57c
>     Garnet, various cuts
>     Garnet necklace
>     Lepidolite
>     Lapis Lazuli
>     Hematite necklace
>     Agate paper knife
>     Wood altered to opal
>     Opal- one of these was from Virgin Valley, Nevada
>     Fire Opal 8.5c
>     Opal
>     Opal in Vesicle of volcanic rock
>     Opal
>     Spodumene (hiddenite) .404 & 695c- Hiddenite, NC
>     Spodumene (kunzite)
>     Serpentine (Williamsite)
>     Rhodonite- Franklin, NJ
>     Rhocochrosite- Franklin, NJ
>     Sphalerite- SPAIN
>     Smithsonite- Masua, Sardinia
>     Olivine 3.5c
>     Tourmaline 10.23c
>     Tourmaline 2.03 & 2.44c
>     Tourmaline
>     Topaz 7.6c
>     Topaz 39.7
>     Topaz 1.83 & 1.67c
>     Topaz pink 1.5 & 1.13c
>     Spinel aquamarine
>     Cats eye pearl
>     Imitation pearls
>     Opercula of Turbo petheolatus
>     Cameo (carved shell)
>     Cameo (carved shell)
>     Amber w/inclusions, fossil resin
>     Opalized wood
>     Opalized wood
>     Pink Agate
>     Agate cut to eye
>     Agate cut to eye
>     Various Quartz gemstones (smoky, clear, citrine, and two star shaped
> cuts)-  These were on the original list, but they were definitely in the
> case by my memory and as best as I can figure are gone now.
> 
> --
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