GETTYSBURG, Pa. — A Maryland Civil War sword belt plate has gone missing.
Cumberland Township Police said a vendor from Maine had the item for sale at the Allstar Complex on Emmitsburg Road during an antique arms show over the weekend.
The vendor soon realized the $3,500 plate had been stolen.
Wayne and Colleen Stevens, owners of The Antiques Center of Gettysburg, know the value these historical artifacts hold.
"We get everything from $2 bullets to occasionally thousands for a kepi, which is a Civil War cap," Colleen Stevens said.
"We have bullets that were found in Virginia and Maryland and we also have bullets that are actually recovered years ago here in Gettysburg, " Wayne Stevens added.
The store has cameras rolling at all times, helping protect the thousands of historical items on display.
"Even if somebody wants the case right next to it open, we stand right here," Colleen Stevens said. "There’s two locks on every case."
Whoever took the belt plate, local dealers said it was a bad idea.
FOX43 spoke off-camera to an employee at Union Drummer Boy Civil War Artifacts in downtown Gettysburg who said there's very little incentive for someone to steal a Civil War relic. He pointed out that each item is authenticated, saying unless the thief was interested in keeping the item, there's little chance they would be able to make money off of it.
The employee suggested if the thief tries to sell the item or shows it to another dealer, they’ll know where it came from.
"If you’re going to steal something like that, the word is out and all of the antique shops pass the word along," Colleen Stevens said. "To steal something like that, yeah not the brightest thing to do. You are gonna get caught."
Cumberland Township Police is asking the public to reach out with any they may have about this theft, as they hope to return a stolen piece of American history.
You can reach the Cumberland Township Police Department at 717-334-8101.