A one-ton cannon from World War I was stolen from the California veterans hall earlier this month.

A man, last name Martinez, saw a statement by the Richmond Police Department announcing that the cannon was missing. He realized that he had bought it for $1,200 dollars earlier this week, it was sitting in his front yard.

Martinez then called the police and cooperated towards returning the rusty piece of artillery.

A one-ton cannon from World War I was stolen from the California veterans hall earlier this month. Photo credit: Fox News
A one-ton cannon from World War I was stolen from the California veterans hall earlier this month. Photo credit: Richmond Police Dept. / Fox News

A 100-year old cannon

The cannon had stayed at the Veterans Memorial Hall for nearly 70 years after it was stolen in a pickup truck on May 1.The burglars are yet to appear.

Police theorize that the burglars may have wanted to smelt the cannon. The estimated cost of the artillery weapon is of $1,500 but the historic value it portrays is much greater, as the criminals incurred in stealing “a piece of our country’s history, and stealing from our war veterans who fought bravely for our country and our freedom,” as the Richmond Police Department Stated.

The cannon is a fearsome 5-foot-tall and its sports a 105-millimeter barrel, mostly made out of brass and iron. The cannon was used by the U.S.’s first all-black tank battalion. It is currently inoperable and it has undergone a welding process to keep it from falling apart.

Martinez bought the cannon, unaware that it was stolen as it was stated on the Richmond Police Department’s Facebook page. Luckily, the burglary was recorded on surveillance camera: the footage shows the criminals parking near the weapon, cutting the chain that held it in place, and then they proceeded to tow it away; all occurred in just under a minute.

“This is a part of our American history and this is stealing from our culture. It’s stealing from the men and women who’ve fought for our country and our freedom,” 79-year-old veteran Art Hunt commented on the events.

Source: Reuters