Calgary Family Heartbroken After Prized Lion Statues Stolen – Calgary | The Canadian News

A Calgary family was left heartbroken and pleading for help after the theft of two lion statues from their home in Evanston.

Rebecca Pham first noticed the disappearance of the statues on November 13 after coming home from a shopping trip.

“I was like, ‘Where are the lions? Who stole my lions? ‘”He told Global News on Tuesday.

Pham said it couldn’t have been an easy feat. The concrete statues weigh 100 pounds and are two feet tall and one foot wide.

But he said that what weighs more is the loss of what they represent: irreplaceable memories of his life with his brother Vincent Finn in the last home they shared in Ontario.

“In 1998, my house burned down and my brother died in the fire,” he said. “He was 13 when he passed away. He was an idol to me. “

Vincent also idolized lions, recalls mum Judi Finn.

“When I was young, I would always point to them and say, ‘Lions, lions,’” ​​Finn said through tears. “This is the first time I have cried” for the loss of the lions.

The statues, which were commissioned by Finn’s husband in 1984, survived the fire and were recovered from the ashes. For the next two decades, they went where the family went.

“Five places,” Finn said. “These have actually been dragged all over Canada.”

They finally landed in Calgary last November.

“Last year my father passed away and my mother moved in with us, and they have been with us ever since,” added Pham.

Lions have worn down a bit over the years, so recently Pham put his blood, sweat, and tears into giving them a much-needed makeover.

“I removed all the old paint and gave them a new finish,” he added. “They looked absolutely beautiful and I was very proud of them.”

Despite how good they look, Pham doesn’t expect them to be able to resell much.

“I don’t think you can get more than $ 100 for them,” he told Global News. “They are nothing to anyone, but they are very sentimental to my family and to me, specifically.”

Pham said he filed a police report and searched the neighborhood for clues. She said that after knocking on doors and gathering video surveillance, she was able to reconstruct different schedules and vehicles in the area during the time the statues disappeared.

“There was a specific truck that stands out, which is acting very strange on the street. It comes by, stops in front of my house, drives away, backs up and stays on our street for a significant amount of time, ”Pham said.

“When I reduced the times, I can see in the camera when my lions were and I can see when they are not. The only moment is that truck that passes my house. “

Police have not confirmed whether they are investigating or any connection between the truck and the statues. Again, the suspicion is only Pham’s.

Pham and Finn added that they are not looking to get anyone in trouble; they just want the lions to come back, safe and sound.

“Whoever took them, please bring them,” Finn urged, “so we can continue to have them here for my grandson and tell him the stories.”

“I want them back,” Pham pleaded. “I don’t care where they are, what you did, I don’t care. I just want them back.

“They are the last thing we have.”