Black history collectibles stolen from museum

Valuable collectibles that commemorate black history in Las Vegas have been stolen from a local museum.

Gwen Walker, founder and president of the Walker African-American Museum & Research Center, said Tuesday that the museum most likely was burglarized sometime Sunday or later.

She thinks the suspect or suspects gained entry by sawing through the protective bars around a cooling system and removing the unit.

Walker said collectibles worth an estimated $5,000 to $10,000 were taken.

She said one item of note that might have been stolen was the badge of Larry Bolden, the first black deputy chief for Las Vegas police. The badge was donated to the museum by Bolden's widow.

The museum, a converted two-bedroom house, is at 705 W. Van Buren Ave., near Owens Avenue and H Street. Walker said the nonprofit museum displays local, national and international black memorabilia.

Walker said items that were definitely stolen include a black cloth doll from the 1940s and dolls and figurines of prominent figures such as heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali and musician Louis Armstrong.

Walker has been collecting items for 40 years and has between 30,000 and 40,000 pieces.

She said she was devastated by the burglary.

Las Vegas police officer Barbara Morgan said the burglary was reported Monday afternoon.

Morgan said she could not say how much in memorabilia was stolen because she had not yet reviewed the incident reports.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.