Alicia Murphy, 60, is under arrest for allegedly stealing the 1969 Preakness Stakes trophy. The trophy belonged to the wealthy owner of Majestic Prince and was stolen from a storage facility in Delray Beach, Florida. It is a curious item to steal since it would be immediately recognizable in any attempt to pawn or fence. It was among hundreds of items stolen from the facility. Police stated that the trophy was immediately recognized and reported by an auction house.
Murphy rented a a unit at the facility before allegedly breaking into multiple units. According to police, “Murphy sent the Preakness Cup and other mementos from the 1969 race to an auction house in New York that specializes in sports memorabilia. The auction company had already given Murphy a $15,000 advance on the cup.” That is the problem in stealing such historical items unless there is a dealer who simply wants to keep a stolen item for personal enjoyment but out of the public eye.
Murphy now faces burglary charges in addition to multiple prior offenses, including grand theft and fraud (for which she served time in 2005). This could be Murphy’s own triple crown if she is sentenced as a habitual offender.