PORTLAND — Portland police and the Federal Protective Service are investigating the theft of two rare, hand-carved wooden eagle sculptures from the Portland Custom House building.

The gold-painted sculptures are believed to be original to the building, which would date them back to the 1860s.

Additional Photos

Wrapped and tagged after being restored, the two eagles were stolen from the grand lobby of the Custom House. They each are about three feet tall and together are valued at about $50,000. Courtesy photo

Authorities estimate their combined valued at about $50,000.

“There is probably not a whole lot someone could do with them unless you are a private collector,” said Vern Malloch, Portland’s acting chief of police. “My hope is that if we get the information out there, it will prevent them from being sold.”

Nicole Clegg, the city’s spokeswoman, said the eagles were stolen from the building’s grand lobby, 312 Fore St., on the weekend of Oct. 20-21.

The eagles had recently been restored and were wrapped in protective plastic at the time of the theft. Each eagle is about three feet tall and two and half feet wide, according to Clegg.

Malloch said the building has an alarm system, but he was not certain the system was activated at the time of theft. There were no signs of forced entry.

The Custom House, which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972, is currently closed and undergoing extensive renovation work. The building was turned over to the General Services Administration in the 1950s.

Malloch said construction workers have access to the building during daytime hours.

The Federal Protective Service employs federal agents who are responsible for security at all federally owned buildings in Portland.

Anyone with information regarding the theft should contact Portland police at 207-874-8533.

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com

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