Suspects sought in theft of antique doors from Bala Cynwyd apartment building

BALA CYNWYD, Pa. (WPVI) -- Lower Merion police are trying to track down the thieves who ripped the doors right off the frame, and then stole them from an apartment building in the Bala Cynwyd neighborhood.

The doors once stood 8 feet high, span 70 inches wide, 3-inch thick oak weighing 400 to 500 pounds apiece at the Hardie House Apartments.

"They are very ornate. They're about 90 years old, original-to-the-building antique doors," said Connor Woodward, Hardie House Apartments. "There is a lot of ornate detail with them, and they're really priceless."

Woodward's family owns the apartment building. He tells us he received a call from an employee asking if the doors were being replaced.

"I couldn't believe it myself so I came down here, and sure enough they were missing," said Woodward.

The thief or thieves stole the doors between 11 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Antiques doors are becoming increasingly in demand.

We spoke with Andrew Stevenson, who is the general manager of Philadelphia Salvage, a store which reclaims and salvages architectural pieces.

"(What could people get for something like that?) Depending on the market, probably $2,500, maybe $3,000," said Stevenson.

"We're going to end up replacing them with something more standard now," said Woodward. "Unless we can find the doors somehow."

The Woodwards suspect a local contractor may be intending to use the doors on a renovation project. Anyone with information can call the Hardie House or Lower Merion police.