MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis police are investigating the theft of an exhibit from the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum.
The Rock n’ Soul Museum in Downtown Memphis promises the ‘Complete Memphis Music Story’, but today it’s missing a piece of that story. Someone stole Elton John’s iconic glasses from this museum, and they don’t know who did it, yet.
Sir Elton John watches over the Rock N Soul Museum, but someone wasn’t watching when a crook took off with his famous heart-shaped shades.
Tina Challis is one of the 60,000 visitors who come to this museum every year to enjoy the music history and memorabilia inside. But Tuesday, someone at the Museum noticed the glasses were gone.
Challis responded, “I can’t believe that, that’s awful!”
The museum’s executive director told WREG someone messed with the locks in the secured case to get them. They hope surveillance footage and fingerprints will help them figure it out. These special pieces mean a lot to visitors who travel thousands of miles to soak it all in.
“Especially over in England, we don’t get anything like this over there to see,” Challis explained.
The glasses are on loan from a private owner. They said to be insured for over $2,000, and if caught, the culprit could face 2-12 years in jail on felony charges.
Challis’ husband Len hopes whoever took them does the right thing, but he’s not betting on it.
“They will probably end up on eBay,” He said.
Right now museum officials don’t suspect employees were involved in this. This is the first theft from an exhibit in the museum’s 15 year history.