Seve Ballesteros Statue Smashed to Pieces as Thieves Look for Bronze
The remains of a life-size statue of Spanish golf legend Seve Ballesteros, a five-time major winner, were discovered in pieces in a storage room in Santander, according to police. The statue, valued at around 30,000 euros, had been torn from its base earlier this month and was being broken down into its bronze components, presumably for sale.
The torso and head of the statue remained intact but its arms were severed into several sections, indicating that thieves had targeted it specifically in an attempt to extract its valuable bronze. Police say they have arrested a 22-year-old man with a history of copper theft, who is believed to be one of the key individuals involved in the plot.
The theft has sparked outrage among golf fans and locals in Pedrena, where the statue stood since 2017 as a tribute to Ballesteros' remarkable career. The 100kg statue depicted Ballesteros celebrating his iconic Open Championship win at St Andrews in Scotland, which he achieved with an impressive comeback from two shots behind.
Police had been investigating metal trading centres, where they suspect some of the stolen bronze may have been sold on. With the arrest, authorities believe that more people may be involved, but so far, no one else has been linked to the crime.
Ballesteros' legacy continues to inspire new generations of golf enthusiasts, and this brazen theft only serves as a reminder of the value placed on cultural artifacts and historical treasures.
The remains of a life-size statue of Spanish golf legend Seve Ballesteros, a five-time major winner, were discovered in pieces in a storage room in Santander, according to police. The statue, valued at around 30,000 euros, had been torn from its base earlier this month and was being broken down into its bronze components, presumably for sale.
The torso and head of the statue remained intact but its arms were severed into several sections, indicating that thieves had targeted it specifically in an attempt to extract its valuable bronze. Police say they have arrested a 22-year-old man with a history of copper theft, who is believed to be one of the key individuals involved in the plot.
The theft has sparked outrage among golf fans and locals in Pedrena, where the statue stood since 2017 as a tribute to Ballesteros' remarkable career. The 100kg statue depicted Ballesteros celebrating his iconic Open Championship win at St Andrews in Scotland, which he achieved with an impressive comeback from two shots behind.
Police had been investigating metal trading centres, where they suspect some of the stolen bronze may have been sold on. With the arrest, authorities believe that more people may be involved, but so far, no one else has been linked to the crime.
Ballesteros' legacy continues to inspire new generations of golf enthusiasts, and this brazen theft only serves as a reminder of the value placed on cultural artifacts and historical treasures.
30k euros worth of bronze and it's all gone! i mean i get that copper thieves are a thing but come on! 
the thing is so iconic now they're gonna have to find another way to pay homage to seve. maybe put a fake one up or something lol idk what else could they do. anyway, i'm just glad no one was hurt in the process...that's the most important thing right? 
THE SEVE BALLESTEROs STATUE WAS LIKE A SYMBOL OF HIS AMAZING CAREER AND NOW IT'S JUST LIES ON THE FLOOR 
I MEAN WHO DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR 30,000 EUROS?!?! IT'S NOT EVEN ABOUT THE MONEY, IT'S ABOUT RESPECT FOR THE LEGEND AND HIS MEMORY 
THE COPPER THIEF IS JUST A LOW LIFE WHO CARES MORE ABOUT GETTING RICH QUICK THAN LEAVING ANYTHING OF VALUE BEHIND 
. Anyone can sell bronze online for a quick buck, they don't have to destroy a piece of history 
. I hope he doesn't get off scot-free 
.
whoever did this is so selfish, like what's the point of stealing something so priceless? 
. And to think they're selling off the metal for cash 
, it's all about the money, right? 
anyway, it's good that the police caught one of the thieves, but i hope they find all the others involved and bring them to justice 
. I mean, I get it, the guy was a legend on the golf course, but come on, can't we appreciate his legacy in a more respectful way? 
.
? Like, can you imagine a stunning sculpture or piece of art made from all those pieces? 
It's crazy to think about how it could be repurposed. And on the bright side, I'm sure Seve would want people to keep celebrating his legacy and spirit 
. It's like they didn't care about the history or the significance of the man himself 
, but it's not something to be proud of 
.
. I mean, Ballesteros was an icon on & off the golf court & this theft is just so disppointing 
. Theres sum1 out ther who cant diff between a statue n a copper pipe 