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An empty concrete platform is all that remains from a popular art sculptures a shopping center on South Street and Carmenita Road in Cerritos. Randy Economy Photo
By Brian Hews
An iconic art display that features children in a marching band has had four of its members stolen from the concrete pedestals in which they have merrily stood at a Cerritos shopping center for the past 15 years.
Cerritos city officials are now investigating who was responsible for “kidnapping” the three individual copper sculptures that have adorned a South Street and Carmenita Road commercial center.
Their children’s names are Rally, Sunni and Buster.
The art pieces portray a group of children marching with pots and pans in a parade line including figures that depict a child in a wheelchair and a little dog and a girl serving as a drum major.
Over the last 2 months, four child sculptures have been lifted from the location that is located next to a popular coffee house. The latest piece stolen took place sometime this week, apparently in the middle of the night.
A top Cerritos city official told Los Cerritos Community Newspaper that the value of the stolen pieces could be worth up to $40,000.00. The city official did not want to be publicly identified, but they told LCCN that they “were heartbroken” to see the popular art pieces stolen.
Dianne Padelford Young, who is the property owner of the shopping complex, told LCCN that the art display was one of the last projects her brother Doug Padelford completed before his sudden death nearly five years ago. “This was one of the last things Doug completed before he died so it is of sentimental value to all of us,” Young said. The Padelford’s are considered to be the “first family” of Artesia, since their father, the late A.J. Padelford was the first person to ever serve as mayor of that municipality more than 50 years ago.
One of the pieces that still remain at the site depicts a little boy in the wheelchairs who still remains placed in concrete.
Young pointed out that “with the skyrocketing costs of copper, to replace just one of the missing child art pieces, is half the cost of the entire piece when it was new.”
Tuesday, April 16, 2013.
Sad story, least who ever did this crime, had respect for the Handicap! Remember, Forest Lawn Cemetery have had many tombstones stolen and nude David has been vandalized. Auto Mall sculpture fountain has remained vanished, after closure and sale of dealership during recession. Wonder if this piece was not part of a non-disclosed lien sale.
Surprised, this South St. location, as this area is flooded with flood light; but location and timing is everything in the art of steal: Location is close to freeway and timing, well the center is closed during the night time hrs.
My first thought is the recession, many business have left this mall and poss. caring over grudges from voidable contracts with the landlord and tenant, such as voided or non returned deposits!
Neptune Marble Fountain Sculpture, Malaga Cove, Palos Verdes Estates, was stolen and found vandalized in downtown Torrance. Monumental Piece was returned, new landscape parkways built around its orig. home and a security cam to PVE Police station was ordered.
Wake up call, citywide art pieces need more built in security upon approval of the pads. Many of the art pieces throughout the city, are not being maintained by the landlords and the pads in the proximity of the art pieces are not maintain and look bad; hence creating a awful brand for the art program and the farming of Cerritos Sculptures Landscape.
Sure hope these pieces were not stolen for profit by melting in to metal soup, for liquid cash….
Thursday, April 18, 2013
http://hmg.theserver.me/loscerritosnews/2013/04/16/four-child-art-pieces-kidnapped-from-cerritos-shopping-center/?replytocom=17408#respond
RE: FAC
Mentioned that the children’s sculpture assembly was privately owned, except for the handicap child, donated by the city. Unreal, we are being serviced by the Cerritos Sheriffs, under the lead County Supervisor Knabe, which lives blocks away. Sheriffs roll by Knabe’s home, (( HOURLY )); yet this crime of children’s statues occurred. Hmm, the Museum pad was robbed over past 4th July Weekend, adj to the Sheriffs Sub Station in Cerritos. Both of these areas do not allow for street parking, (Day|Night).
My pt, overnight parking ordinance does not decrease crime!
Gudandi Sculpture (sp?) on Carmenita/Alondra | attempted theft. Again, no parking day and nite!
http://www.cerritos.us/RESIDENTS/tv3/video_archive.php
Bet if (D) Pulido and (D)Cho had asked for censor over Battery Barrows, in July 2012, none of this would be occurring today! Both democratic seats have allowed the (R) to walk all over them, including the most recent w/ rejection of (D) Frank Y.
http://cerritos.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=08&clip_id=2930
When my wife and I first saw these items a number of years ago we both wondered how long it would take the ner-do-wells from around the hoods to steal them. Anyone can fill in the blanks on who the perps may be and where they are from.. Three guesses at who they are, where from etc, and the first two guesses do NOT COUNT..
By now all stolen stuff is fenced.. and statues are melted down. The preps got what they wanted.. more free money (loot) to stuff up their noses..
I’m not exactly sure what FLF is implying, but I’m reasonably sure that the people who do this type of thing are typically drug addicts; and drugs addicts come from all over.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Talked with some employees in the mall where the sculpture is being displayed. Since the owner of the mall is an appointee of the Cerritos Economic Commission, appointed by Senior George Ray, there is a huge conflict of interest. Mr. Paddleford is not a resident of Cerritos, but resides in Artesia and businesses all throughout Socal. Mall employees are asking, why the special treatment to Artesia Resident in to Cerritos Politics?
Also, (R) Senior George Ray voted to dismiss a former FAC, (D) Mr. Fuentes, for personality issues.
Not a reason to steal, but when residents in any city are outraged of appointing outsiders to run on our homegrown commissions and committees, this is an open invitation for on going revolt inside the community at large.
Why I support appointment by resume and stop the appointing by friends and race card. Feel this is going to be ongoing issues with Senior George Ray, as he has been on way to many political appointees and has become a political doormat for backdoor private agenda dealings and appointed mostly retreads to his 7 appointee groups. Chickens may be coming home to roost in his political circle. Vouchers could be picking away at our art in public places, because of this old political man’s history.
Very odd twist, few yrs ago, someone suggested our CCC invite the Artesia CC to an open dialog at our chambers, in order to establish some PR. Remember Councilperson Battery Barrows stating ( NO), but know allows Artesia Resident to serve on the Cerritos Economic Commission. Guess the rule dont apply, when (R) colleague asks to commingle with another (R) boys group!!!
http://hmg.theserver.me/loscerritosnews/2013/04/16/four-child-art-pieces-kidnapped-from-cerritos-shopping-center/