One of
Canada’s wealthiest families is
offering a “substantial” reward after two Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup rings
and other valuables were stolen from the Bronfman family
mansion.
The
Bronfmans have hired a private investigator, who declined to put a dollar value
on the reward, but said the family hopes greed will motivate the thief or
thieves to come forward.
“Certainly
the people that took this took it for greed and hopefully they’ll be curious
enough to find out what that property is worth to the family,” said Mark
Mendelson.
Mendelson
noted the jewelry is valued at more than $1 million, but wouldn’t say if the
family is offering more than that as a reward.
He said the
reward is for the return of all of the jewelry
intact.
“I would
suggest that it’s very difficult right now to move this stuff, and if (someone
is) in possession of it, we’re offering a very simple alternative to selling
this jewelry on the black market,” Mendelson said.
The
Bronfmans are offering anonymity to anyone who comes forward through a website
or tipline they have set up.
The jewelry
that was taken during the Nov. 8 theft includes the two Stanley Cup championship
rings dating back to the 1970s, when brothers Peter and Edward Bronfman owned
the Canadiens.
A flawless
six-carat diamond and other precious stones and metals, some handed down through
four generations, were also stolen from the mansion in Toronto’s upscale Forest
Hill neighbourhood.
An
undisclosed amount of money and a safe that weighed between 90 and 100 kilograms
were also reported stolen.
“It’s a
tremendous violation,” Mendelson said.
“This
certainly isn’t your run-of-the-mill break-and-enter where kids break into your
home for a bottle of booze and some spare change sitting in a cup. Certainly
these people are sophisticated and knew what they were
doing.”
Anyone with
information can call 1-647-299-1491 or visit www.bronfmanjewellery.com to see
photographs of the stolen items.