By ERIC C. RODENBERG
Associate Editor

SOUTH BELOIT, Ill. — Police are still seeking leads in the July 18 theft of three Civil War Colt revolvers from the Roscoe Antique Mall in South Beloit, Ill.
The revolvers were stolen from the locked booth case of vendor Jim Wichman from Madison, Wis., police said. The guns include a Cased Colt Model 1855 sidehammer pocket percussion revolver, serial no. 3979, in a walnut case with original Colt accessories. The retail value of the pistol is estimated at nearly $7,000.

Also taken was a Colt Model 1849 pocket revolver, serial no. 100501, with a 4-inch blue barrel. Its estimated retail value is about $6,000.

Also stolen was an inscribed and dated (1863) Colt Model 1862 Police Revolver in its original walnut divided case with a Colt bronze powder flask, bullet mold, nipple wrench, percussion caps and lead balls. The revolver, with blue finish, is engraved “E.W. Bouve, 1863.” The barrel is marked “Address Col. Saml Colt New-York U.S. America” in one line, with “Pat. Sept. 10th 1850” stamped on one of the cylinder flutes. The .36-caliber revolver with a 5 1/2-inch barrel has a serial no. 18355.

The suspected gun thief can be seen allegedly stealing the antiques on Youtube at “roscoe antique mall gun thief.” He is described as more than 6-feet tall, weighing 220-250 pounds. Apparently, he has a “Southern accent.”
Roscoe Antique Mall owner Gaylene Stomberg believes the man removed the guns from the case, placed them out of sight in the booth, then left the store on three separate occasions, each time taking a gun with him.
He purchased a Civil War canteen at the mall, paying in cash.
Anyone encountering the man is urged to contact South Beloit police at 815-389-3491 or the Roscoe Antique Mall at 815-389-8800.