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Case of stolen golden eagle statue heading to court

The theft of a golden eagle statue in Ladner that made international headlines in 2016 will soon land in B.C. Supreme Court. Forgotten Treasures International Inc.
gold eagle
Ron Shore holds a picture of his golden eagle during a 2016 press conference.

The theft of a golden eagle statue in Ladner that made international headlines in 2016 will soon land in B.C. Supreme Court.

Forgotten Treasures International Inc. is suing Lloyd’s Underwriters and other insurance companies for denying a claim after thieves allegedly made off with a golden eagle statue encrusted with hundreds of diamonds worth $930,000.  

The company filed a May 25 notice of civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court naming Lloyd’s, Endeavour Insurance Services Ltd., Hub International Canada West ULC, Hub International Ltd. and broker Mark Loewen as defendants. 

Forgotten Treasures claims it operates an international treasure hunt to raise money for cancer research.

“The focus of the treasure hunt is an 18-pound sculpture of an eagle, made of solid gold and encrusted with 763 diamonds weighing 56 karats,” the claim states. 

Carrying a $1 million prize, the hunt involves multiple locations in North America and Europe, with clues hidden online and in books sold by Forgotten Treasures, which donates the profits to cancer research, according to the lawsuit. Participants who find one of 12 certificates in the hunt are awarded a silver eagle sculpture, the company claims. 

“To date, five silver eagles, worth approximately $175,000, have been awarded to the winners of the first five city treasure hunts,” the claim states. “The plaintiff intended to sell the gold eagle at the end of the treasure hunt in order to finance the final prize, with the remainder of the proceeds to be donated to cancer research.” 

In May 2016, Forgotten Treasures founder Ron Shore was promoting the hunt at an event in Ladner. After the event, Shore took the eagle sculptures to his car and was allegedly jumped by thieves. 

“Just before he placed the eagles in his vehicle, Mr. Shore was attacked, hit over the head and robbed. The thieves cut the strap of the backpack in which the eagles were concealed, and ran away with the eagles,” the claim states.

“Mr. Shore has fully co-operated with the police following the theft, giving them detailed descriptions of one of the thieves and the get-away truck. However, the theft remains unsolved.” 

Delta police public affairs coordinator Cris Leykauf confirmed to the Optimist the investigation is ongoing, but couldn’t provide any further information.

Forgotten Treasures’ insurance claim for the eagles was denied in October 2016. The company is seeking $400,000 for the golden eagle and $53,750 for the silver eagle. 

The allegations have not been tested or proven in court.

– With files from Business in Vancouver