Two valuable antique signs were stolen from Angel Delgadillo’s Route 66 Gift Shop building in Seligman, Arizona, and the thieves may be responsible for other heists along the Mother Road in that region.
The Daily Courier communicated with Dwight D’Evelyn at the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office about the Seligman thefts
One sign advertised Coca-Cola; the other was a Goodyear Tire sign.
Each sign is valued at $3,000, D’Evelyn said.
They were stolen at about 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 3 and the owner reported the theft the next day.
D’Evelyn said the suspects may be driving a white Ford pick-up truck which he said had been involved with a similar theft in Kingman.
Stolen were old Goodyear and Coca-Cola signs, pictured above.
Surveillance photos captured images of at least one of the thieves, but the quality of the images is only so-so. They can be seen here.
These thefts have to be disheartening for Route 66 fans, because Deligadillo probably is the most beloved person on Route 66 due to his unfailing hospitality and the crucial role he played in reviving Route 66.
According to a forwarded email this week from John McEnulty at Grand Canyon Caverns west of Seligman:
Our neighbor Amy, owner of the Hackberry General Store, was severely vandalized this week.
Many expensive items were stolen at 2am time period by what seemed like professional thieves.
Cool Springs on way to Oatman has been repeatedly vandalized since being shuttered some months ago.
We ourselves have been battling cut fences on the South side [RV Park side] for weeks.
The sheriff’s office asks anyone with information on the suspects and/or whereabouts of the signs to call immediately at (928) 771-3260. Yavapai Silent Witness at (800) 932-3232 is offering a $500 reward for any tip that leads to arrests of the suspects. The reward is offered only for calls directly to Silent Witness.
(Image of the stolen Seligman signs via Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office)
I hope they catch the bums.