Reels as an “object of cultural heritage”

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Mike N
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Reels as an “object of cultural heritage”

Post by Mike N »

I was just reading a newspaper article about an arrest in a Florida Keys museum theft. Normally, grand larceny is a state, not a federal offense, but the defendants were charged with a federal crime. Here is the Miami Herald article link: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c ... 88979.html

The article states that Federal law defines an “object of cultural heritage” as a museum item that is over 100 years old and worth more than $5,000, or valued at over $100,000 regardless of age. See, https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/668

It made me think: how many fishing reels would meet the first definition of an “object of cultural heritage?” Surely, the George Snyder and Philbrooke & Paine reels. What others based on recent auction results or sales?
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
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1badf350
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Re: Reels as an “object of cultural heritage”

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"It was taken from a case designed to let people hold it but not remove it"

So it was like one of those puzzles you buy at Cracker Barrel.
-Chris R.
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kyreels
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Re: Reels as an “object of cultural heritage”

Post by kyreels »

OK closet barristers, what if they stole a case of my stuff worth over $5000? Do I have a case?
Matt Wickham
Collector of Casting Weights, KY Reels and KY Tackle
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Mike N
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Re: Reels as an “object of cultural heritage”

Post by Mike N »

kyreels wrote:OK closet barristers, what if they stole a case of my stuff worth over $5000? Do I have a case?
Interesting question. The federal statute makes it illegal to steal “an object” which normally would imply a single item and not the cumulative value of “a case of stuff.”

Assuming you are a museum, I think the statute would arguably apply only if your “stuff” when combined was a set, such as a set of rare silverware. Would a court likewise consider a “collection” of reels to be a single “object?” Doubtful.

However, here is a 3rd Circuit decision where the theft of a Civil War military frock coat and a pair of pants (two items) was considered to be a single object, a uniform.

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/ap ... 69/510709/
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
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