Thanks to a tip from a concerned citizen, fragments of an antique copper pot still stolen from the Whim Museum grounds in the first week of September were located by police around 10 a.m. Thursday in Estate Campo Rico.
About two tons of copper, forming the body or "pot" of the pot still and its distillation coils, are still missing.
All that was left of the more than six foot tall irreplaceable historical artifact were several large metal rings used to hold the pot still together and a brass valve strewn near the road on a vacant lot. At least seven private homes along the road have a clear view of where the artifact is believed to have been dismantled, according to police, who say the artifact was stolen for the copper resale value.
"As long as there is a market for stolen property there will be those who will violate the law," St. Croix Deputy Chief Christopher Howell said in a Police Department press release Thursday. "What is personally disturbing to me is that this all took place in plain view of residents and this action did not trigger an outpour of calls to the police department," he said.
Police have a number of leads they will pursue in the upcoming hours and days, he said.
Police are asking everyone dealing in scrap metal to keep an eye out and for anyone who may have unknowingly purchased the copper recently to come forward with that information. Both possession of stolen property, and buying and receiving stolen property are criminal acts.
Anyone having any knowledge of this crime can call the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-712-6077 or 340-712-6037 or Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222 TIPS.
