UPDATED: No Breaks Reported Yet in USGA Museum Theft

The United States Golf Association Museum on Liberty Corner Road was burglarized early Wednesday morning, with two historic trophies reportedly taken from cases that had apparently been broken open with an ax, authorities said.

Township police and the Somerset County Prosecutor's office on Thursday afternoon said there was nothing new yet to report in the case.

The reported theft took place less than a week after Bernards Police Lt. Michael Voorhees said the USGA theft is being investigated in cooperation with the continuing Bernardsville investigation. However, the police chief in Bernardsville said it is premature to link the two incidents at this time.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, the Somerset County Prosecutor's office and said Bernards Township Police responded to an activated burglar alarm at the USGA Museum, located at 77 Liberty Corner Road Wednesday at about 2:40 a.m.

Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano said the township officers arrived to find a broken glass window located next to the front entrance of the museum. Officers from the Bedminster and Far Hills police departments were also dispatched to the scene, according to the prosecutor's office.

Once inside the building, the officers observed several trophy cases that were extensively damage with an ax and that trophies had been removed, Soriano said. A security video camera revealed the suspect has a tall, thin build and he was wearing blue jeans, a dark-colored jacket, white sneakers and he might have been wearing a mask, the prosecutor's office said.

Meanwhile, Somerset County Crime Stoppers, Inc. on Wednesday afternoon announced that the not-for-profit organization is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the break-in at the USGA.

USGA details what was taken

The United States Golf Association on Wednesday issued a statement, saying the artifacts taken were the U.S. Amateur Trophy, which was created in 1926 and retired in 1992, and a replica of Ben Hogan’s 1953 Hickok Belt award, which the USGA acquired from the Hogan estate in 1998 and has been on display in the Museum since 1999.

Joe Goode, communications director for the United States Golf Association, said that the night before the theft the museum had been open for a reception for the new Mickey Wright room, the USGA's first room dedicated to a woman golfer. That event ended, and the museum was closed up, at about 7 p.m. on Tuesday, he said later on Wednesday afternoon.

One of the items taken, a replica of golfer Ben Hogan's 1953 Hickok Belt award, was from the museum's Ben Hogan room, Goode said.

Goode said a trophy case located within the Ben Hogan room had been one of two damaged. He said he believed the other, from which the second item was taken, had been in the museum's Hall of Champions.

“This is an unfortunate incident, but we are thankful for the safety of our staff. These artifacts are an important part of our collection and their loss is a great disappointment," the release said. The release said the USGA is working closely with police to aid in the recovery of the artifacts.

Goode said he would not discuss further information, particularly regarding the investigation or security procedures at the museum, located on a property that also includes wooded and lawn areas, as well as a putting green.

Goode said the museum declines to discuss the intrinsic value of these artifacts. "However, these historical artifacts are an important part of our collection, and their loss is a great disappointment to us," he said later on Wednesday. 

Voorhees said that as of Wednesday afternoon, police did not have a value to place on the missing artifacts.

The museum was closed on Wednesday, but will be open as usual on Thursday, said a spokeswoman at the USGA.

Detectives from the Bernards Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Crime Scene Investigations Unit (C.S.I.) also responded to process the scene, the release said.

That burglary at the country club at 180 Mine Mount Road in Bernardsville apparently occurred between 3 to 5 a.m. last Friday, Bernardsville Borough police said.

Country Club investigation in Bernardsville continues

Late on Wednesday afternoon, Bernardsville Police Chief Kevin Valentiine said borough police are continuing an investigation into the theft reported at the private country club.

"We are aware of the USGA incident and our detective bureau has been in contact with investigators from the Bernards Township police department to investigate any similarities that may or may not exist," Valentine said in an email late on Wednesday afternoon.  "It would be premature to link them at this time," the chief added.

Law enforcement authorities request that anyone having information regarding this incident should contact the Bernards Township Detective Bureau at 908-766-1122, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Burglary Task Force at 908-231-7100, or Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). Information also may be filed online at www.888577tips.org or at www.scpo.net and clicking on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE.” All calls are confidential, authorities said.