ATTENTION! ATTENTION! - QUICK ACTION REQUIRED:
About 15 very fine gold specimens were stolen from the main exhibit hall of the Sterling Hill Mining Museum on the afternoon of July 27, 2011. This was a smash-and-grab operation that had to be accomplished within a 20-minute time window. We ask that dealers and collectors be alert for any sudden influx of fine gold specimens being offered from other than the usual sources. For the time being the museum president does not wish photos of the stolen specimens to be widely circulated, but the museum has good photo coverage of all specimens taken.
If anyone has information to offer, please call the Sterling Hill Mining Museum at 973-209-7212 and ask for Dick Hauck, Bob Hauck, or Earl Verbeek, or send e-mail to Earl Verbeek at everbeek@ptd.net. A hefty reward is being offered for the successful recovery of these specimens and capture of the thief.
Thanks, all- Earl Verbeek 
Unfortunately if it was just gold specimens taken, it's more likely they will be melted down. 
Earl,
Sorry to hear the sad news; For what it's worth, I asked my daughter to tell her friends and gold buying business associates in the diamond district in New York to be on the lookout. I agree with Jolyon about the meltdown possibilites. Sounds to me like someone cased the place and then returned for a tour.
Good luck on recovering the specimens.
Joe I have been cleared to release photographs of the gold specimens that were stolen on July 27 from the Sterling Hill Mining Museum. Photographs of the first three specimens accompany this message. As mentioned before, if anyone has information relating to any of these specimens, please contact either Richard or Robert Hauck (phone 973-209-7212) or Earl R. Verbeek at everbeek@ptd.net. Localities and specimen sizes are given in the caption below each photograph.
Hi,
Earl, it's a sad day for those of us who love the Sterling Hill Museum and the people like the Hauks who did so much for our hobby. Everyone I spoke with is devestated by the loss.
For everyone else reading this here is a link to an article in the Newark Star Ledger. If the link fails, go to the paper's website and click on Sussex County and then scroll down to Ogdensburg.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/ogdensburg_museum_at_old_sterl.html
Joe Here are three more of the gold specimens stolen July 27 from the Sterling Hill Mining Museum. Anyone with information please call Richard or Robert Hauck at 973-209-7212 or send e-mail to Earl Verbeek at everbeek@ptd.net. Specimen localities and sizes are in captions beneath each photo.
Thanks, all - Earl
Three more photos. As in previous messages, specimen localities and sizes appear in captions below the photos. Anyone with information to offer please call Richard or Robert Hauck at Sterling Hill Mining Museum (973-209-7212) or send e-mail to Earl Verbeek at everbeek@ptd.net.
Thanks- Earl
This is the last set of photos for now, of gold specimens stolen July 27 from the Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, New Jersey. Anyone with information to offer is asked to call Richard or Robert Hauck at 973-209-7212 or send e-mail to Earl Verbeek at everbeek@ptd.net. Specimen localites (where known) and sizes are in captions below each photo.
Joe: Thanks for your wishes. We really appreciate it.
Earl
When you think how hard everyone worked to put the collection together it really pisses you off. Well, I guess its time for more security cameras and alarm systems. 
Sadly with the price of gold now greater than platinum, I fear the worst. Some years ago there was a court case in Canada about The Nugget Pond Gold. An example is pictured above and is stolen again!!!
To make a long story short Richmont Mines who owned the property filed Theft complaints and there was a court case and a few miners did jail time. The RCMP showed up in Tucson asking about Nugget Pond Specimens. Those that were recovered were returned to Richmont and although they said they might be released when Nugget Pond was finished, I suspect that they all went to the smelter. This is one of the very best xllized gold localities in Canada and now little to nothing survives.
