UPDATE – On the evening of Friday June 24, 2106 the Victoria Police responded to a report of found stolen property in the 1300 block of Government St. Police were informed that an unknown person, believed to be a man, dressed all in black approached the store and tossed a large object, wrapped in blankets, at the door. The store employee retrieved the item and discovered that it was the stolen carving from the University of Victoria.
It’s not known at this time if the piece has suffered any damage but it appears to be in good condition. The art piece is now with the Oak Bay Police and in the process of being returned to the University of Victoria.
A/Sgt. Jereme Leslie
Original Release:
On June 13, 2016 Oak Bay Police responded to the University of Victoria for a report of a Break and Enter to the Fraser building. A vending machine and a few lockers had been broken into inside the building. Also, a valued piece of First Nations Art was stolen. The Oak Bay Police and Saanich Police are now conducting a joint investigation into the matter and the Saanich Police Forensic Identification Section has processed the scene.
The stolen art piece, Sul-Sultan was created by Tsartlip Coast Salaish artist Charles W. Elliott in 1995-96 and was commission by and is owned by the Faculty of Law. The Sul-Sultan piece is carved cedar with inlaid abalone, depicting a cedar spindle whorl with central human figure flanked by two wolf figures and a frog at lower centre area. The whorl sits in a painted carved stand and the overall value is estimated at $10,000.
“This is a joint investigation between the Oak Bay Police and Saanich Police as the University of Victoria campus is situated within both Municipalities” A/Sgt. Jereme Leslie said. “The University of Victoria has owned this piece for 20 years and they hope for the quick recovery of this culturally significant piece of art.”
Police are asking that if you were in the area between June 12-13, 2016 between the hours of 5:30PM – 5:30AM, and saw anything suspicious, to call Saanich Police at 250-475-4321 or Oak Bay Police at 250-592-2424 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
A/Sgt. Jereme Leslie
SA 16-13169 & OB 16-02060
