POQUOSON — A historic ship’s anchor was stolen from the grounds of the Poquoson Museum.
According to Poquoson Police Department (PPD) Chief of Police Stephen E. Keatts, PPD responded to the museum on Monday, Sept. 20 after it was reported that the theft occurred.
Sometime between Sept. 13 and 20, someone entered the museum’s grounds and removed the anchor from the property.
The Museum notes that the circa-late nineteenth century anchor is approximately seven feet in length, five feet wide at its base, and weighs approximately one ton (2,000 lbs.).
Poquoson Museum President Paul Whitlow said that the anchor was donated by a family in Fox Hill in the early 2000s, along with a number of other anchors that the museum still has.
The anchor was located near the nature trail and could be seen from the trail.
“It was placed there when it was donated, and we thought it was safe because of the size,” he said. “Obviously, we were wrong about that.”
Whitlow said that the anchor would have likely been stolen in the early morning or late night, and would have needed at least three people involved due to its weight and size.
“You’d have to have someone put a chain on it and lift it up with a front-end loader and then have somewhere to transport it on, like a trailer,” he said.
The theft is currently under investigation.
Anyone who may have any information regarding this case is encouraged to call Poquoson Police Department at (757) 868-3501.