Reward Increased for Historic Golf Trophies

Bernardsville Police Chief Kevin Valentine and Somerset Hills Country Club President R. Kelly Doherty of Bernardsville announced Monday that the reward being offered is increased by from the country club in Bernardsville.

The Somerset Hills Country Club reward, privately offered, is in addition to a reward already being offered by Somerset County Crime Stoppers Inc., the announcement from the police chief said.

Doherty, of Bernardsville, stated, “The trophies are an important part of the club's legacy. The real loss is the historic significance and sentimental value of the trophies."

The club president added, "We hope that the reward will entice someone to come forward with information leading to their return.”

Bernardsville police previously had reported that the clubhouse at 180 Mine Mount Road was broken into twice on May 11 and . Conditions of the new reward being offered by the country club include providing information that leads to the arrest of the person or persons involved and the recovery of the valuable historic trophies, according to the announcement.

As of this week, the theft of the Somerset Hills Country Club — as well as the on Liberty Corner Road in Bernards Township in the time period between the two break-ins at the Bernardsville club — both remained unsolved.

Valentine said, "The trophies are a valuable part of the club’s history and members of the club would like to see the trophies returned to their rightful place.” The chief further stated that the purpose of the new reward is to generate new publicity about the incident "in an effort to develop new information to help investigators working on this case.”

Somerset Hills Club members expressed the hope that an arrest will lead to the recovery of the trophies in a case of theft that still is being investigated by police and detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. 

"Many of these trophies represent [Somerset Hills] Club tournaments that have been contested since the turn of the century, and reflect multigenerational winners," added Nick Alberti, the club's golf chairman and another Bernardsville resident.

Valentine said that the new privately offered reward for information leading to an arrest and recovery of the trophies is combined with a $5,000 reward being offered by Somerset County Crime Stoppers.

Law enforcement and club officials are requesting that anyone with information regarding either of the burglaries call the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or report tips online, or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE.” All calls are confidential.