A man, identified as 44-year-old Justin Livick, has been arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in connection with the theft of a Buddha statue valued at $1.5 million. The statue was recovered from a truck on Saturday, and Livick was apprehended on suspicion of possession of stolen property. However, he has since been released from custody. Ancient Buddha statue recovered
The circumstances surrounding the theft and whether Livick was the actual thief or had acquired the statue from someone else remain unclear. The incident remains under investigation, and as of Wednesday, no additional details have been disclosed. Ancient Buddha statue recovered
The stolen Buddha statue was taken from the Barakat Gallery in Beverly Grove during the early hours of September 18 at approximately 3:45 a.m., according to the police.
Security footage revealed that the thief arrived at the Barakat Gallery in a moving truck. The individual exited the truck, forcibly opened a driveway gate, entered the gallery, and used a dolly to transport the valuable Buddha statue into the truck. The entire heist was completed in approximately 25 minutes, according to gallery owner police.
Barakat had acquired the statue, which dates back to Japan’s Edo Period (1603-1867), over 55 years ago and regarded it as an irreplaceable piece. He expressed his deep attachment to the statue, stating that he had initially kept it in his home’s backyard and later placed it in the gallery’s backyard for the public to appreciate and enjoy.
Go For Western Economy With These Pioneering