Historical collage stolen

A framed photograph of a World War II veteran said to be worth $10,000 has been stolen from the Arches restaurant, Newport Beach police said Friday.

Police suspect a restaurant patron swiped the 18-inch-by-12-inch piece Wednesday evening from the south wall near the restrooms. It displayed a photo collage of a U.S. Marine on a beach in Okinawa in 1945 and a second shot taken at the same beach 50 years later.

“I don’t know who would want it, but I mean somebody would pay $10,000 for it,” said restaurant owner Dan Marcheano. The frame also contained a paper with typed instructions for soldiers on how to interact with Japanese soldiers and a Japanese Yen, both dating back to World War II. Scrawled across the top of the white-matted background was the word “Revisited.”

“There were no signs of forced entry so we think someone took it while they were open for business Wednesday night,” said Sgt. Evan Sailor. “They probably thought it was a neat picture and took it without realizing what the value was.”

The veteran pictured in the photos loaned the frame to Marcheano eight months ago to display in his restaurant, adding to its sentimental value.

“I was shocked that somebody out there could be so low and or so drunk as to take something like that,” Marcheano said.

Police said the frame may be returned anonymously and ask anyone with more information to call (800) 550-NBPD.