Raid nets stolen manuscripts

2005-12-09 08:13

Adelanto - United States detectives have recovered original manuscripts from Casablanca, Citizen Kane and My Fair Lady while investigating a series of burglaries in the Los Angeles area.

The Daily Press of Victorville said the manuscripts were among an estimated $500 000 (R3.2 million) in movie and sports memorabilia found by sheriff's deputies in a run-down, debris-filled house in Victorville, 120km from Los Angeles.

US detective sergeant Bobby Hughes of the San Bernardino county sheriff's station in Victorville said the thieves "didn't know how to get rid of (the stolen goods) because the stuff was so hot it's not like you can sell this on eBay. That's why they held onto it for so long".

Among the "hot" items was a trove of Humphrey Bogart related memorabilia, including letters from Ingrid Bergman, photographs and an original hand-typed play titled Everybody Goes to Rick's which eventually became Casablanca.

More valuable items found

Also found at the house were weapons, electronic equipment, valuable coins and sports memorabilia - including a signed plaque featuring Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee Hardaway, and a football used in the 2000 SuperBowl bearing the name of the game's most valuable player, Kurt Warner.

Reggit Stephens, 37, and Joseph Kelley, 43, both of Adelanto, have been arrested for possessing stolen property.

Both men were being held at the Victor Valley Jail on $1 million (R6.4 million) bail each.

US authorities, however, said not all of the $900 000 in stolen goods was recovered.

Still missing are manuscripts of Gone With the Wind, Stage Coach and The Maltese Falcon, as well as a letter from Bergman to her agent.

- AP