Sailors Steal Art in Drunken Gallery Robbery

Two drunken US Navy sailors went on an art theft rampage in Fernandina Beach, a community in the north-easternmost corner of Florida, when they broke into the Island Art Association last month and made off with five artworks, First Coast News reports. According to the Fernandina Beach Police Department, 27-year-old Jonathan Ibrahim and 23-year-old Nathan Mendoza kicked in the back door of the gallery.

This sculpture by Pam Bennett was one of the works stolen from the Island Art Association.
Photo: Courtesy Island Art Association.

The pair was caught after one of them was overheard bragging about the break-in, saying that the art was hanging on his apartment wall. All five stolen artworks were recovered and the men both confessed to the belligerent burglary. Unfortunately one of the stolen works was irreparably damaged in the incident. The pieces included a glass swimsuit sculpture by Pam Bennett (above), two paintings by Susan Sellner, a glass platter by Denise Murphy, and a painting by Georganna Mullis.

Ibrahim and Mendoza are being charged with criminal mischief, burglary, and grand theft. They will also be disciplined by the US Navy.