SPERRY, Okla. — The Sperry Police Department found and arrested two suspects who allegedly stole a 225-pound bronze statue from the front of the Tulsa City-County Library on N. Cincinnati Ave.
SPD said the suspects took the statue around 3:26 a.m. on Nov. 24.
WATCH: Sperry police searching for suspects in stolen $13k statue
Video shows two individuals sitting on a bench for several minutes before picking up and walking away with the statue.
The statue wasn't secured to the ground or any fixed object during the theft.
"This was something that was important to our community. Something that beautified our community. And it just disappeared," said Sperry Police Chief Nick Mahoney.
On Dec. 5, police received an anonymous tip that two men, Carl Robinson and Christopher Klimacak, were the suspects and that they were recently arrested by the Owasso Police Department for a larceny and pursuit.
Robinson was interviewed by officers at the jail. SPD says Robinson admitted to stealing the statue.
"Robinson stated he and Klimcak used the Osage Trail to enter Sperry with the intent of stealing the statue. They hid it in the woods, returned later with a truck, and transported it to a residence near Turley where they cut it into pieces and sold them to Frailey's Recycling," a press release from Sperry police said.
Robinson also said he and Klimcak are methamphetamine users who regularly use the Osage Trail to commit crimes.
Police served a search warrant where the two allegedly sold the statue for scrap but no remains of the statue were found.
Carl Robinson, 53, is a convicted felon with a criminal history dating back to 1990. Christopher Klimcak, 28, is also a convicted felon with multiple charges from New York.
"When this theft occurred, I told the media we would catch those responsible, and we have done exactly that," said Chief Nick Mahoney. "Some may believe smaller communities are easy targets—that our departments are understaffed or lack proper training and resources. I want to be clear: that is not the case in Sperry. This investigation proves it. If you're considering coming to Sperry to commit a crime, let this serve as your warning—it's not worth it."
The statue, valued at over $13,000, meant something to community members like Jan Nolen.
"We're a small town, and we put a lot of hard work into our community library," Nolen said. "And for somebody to come up and steal it is just not very holiday-like."
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