Thieves smash glass, steal Orlando Magic memorabilia from Wells'Built Museum

COCOA, Fla. (FOX 35 Orlando) - Orlando’s Wells’ Built Museum of African-American history is filled with items showing parts of the city’s past.  It is a tiny, but well done, two-room operation -- not the kind of place you might think thieves would target.

But they did.  Someone smashed one of the historic building’s glass doors, went inside and stole items from an exhibit titled Orlando Magic Firsts. Museum Executive Director, Elizabeth Thompson says the thieves only took a few selected items.

“A jersey from Otis Smith and a corresponding pair of his shoes. We had a jersey from Nick Anderson and a corresponding pair of his shoes,” says Thompson.

She thinks the buildings audible burglar alarm scared them away because those items are all they took.

Orlando Police are investigating but tell The News Station they have not made any arrests.  However, community members are stepping up to help the museum recover. The building’s security company, ADT, showed up while FOX 35’s crew were on-scene and offered to upgrade the alarm system.

Thompson says the Orlando Magic have already been in touch and offered to make a new donation.