Police in Spain have arrested a 22-year-old man after recovering a stolen life-size statue of golf legend Seve Ballesteros, which was found chopped into pieces in a storage room. The statue, valued at 30,000 euros, was intended for sale as bronze by the thief. Authorities suspect more individuals may be involved in the theft from Pedrena.
A life-size statue of five-time major winner Seve Ballesteros disappeared from his hometown of Pedrena in northern Spain's Cantabria region earlier this month. The 100kg bronze artwork, depicting Ballesteros celebrating his 1984 Open Championship victory at St Andrews in Scotland, had stood in La Barqueria Park since its installation in 2017. Created in 2009 by sculptor Salvador Garcia Ceballos, it was torn from its base, dragged across grass, and dismembered for transport before being hidden in a storage room in nearby Santander.
Police focused their investigation on metal trading centres, suspecting the motive was to sell the bronze for profit. On Thursday, they arrested a 22-year-old man with a prior criminal record for copper theft. The statue was discovered cut in half at the waist, with the torso and head intact but the arms broken into several pieces. Valued at about 30,000 euros, the piece holds significant sentimental value for locals and fans, beyond its material worth.
Ballesteros, who also contributed to Europe's four Ryder Cup victories as a player and captain, died in 2011 at age 54 after battling brain cancer. He was renowned for his skill in recovering from difficult positions on the course. Authorities revealed details of the arrest on Friday, noting that additional suspects could be involved.
