Arrests Made in the 2015 Theft of Championship Belts, but There is Sad News

On Nov. 12, 2015, the New York Times was the first major news outlet to report that there had been a late-night break-in at the International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum in Canastota, New York, and that the burglars had absconded with six world championship belts, four awarded to legendary Canastota boxer Carmen Basilio and the others to former world middleweight champion Tony Zale. The story said the items were removed from their shattered glass encasements the previous Thursday, Nov. 5, and that the Antiquities Bureau of the F.B.I. was on the case.

With each passing year, the presumption grew stronger that the stolen belts would never be found. That has proved to be true. Today, it was announced that nine people from  Pennsylvania’s Lackawanna County had been arrested in conjunction with this theft and others, but the announcement carried the sad news that the belts were likely destroyed after their gemstones were stripped away to be sold on the black market.

The perpetrators are alleged to have been involved in thefts of sports memorabilia dating back to 1999. Among the items they stole were nine World Series rings awarded to Yogi Berra – which the thieves are thought to have melted down and sold as scrap metal – and the Hickok Belt and MVP Trophy awarded to Berra’s teammate Roger Maris. Other items that were pilfered from various museums include antique firearms, Tiffany lamps, antique jewelry, and valuable artwork.

Eight of the nine alleged perpetrators have been arrested but the presumptive ringleader, Nicholas Dombek, 53, of Thornhurst, remains at large and is considered a fugitive from justice. Dombek reportedly burned a stolen painting valued at $500,000 when he sensed that investigators were closing in on him.

Dombek is a serial offender. In 2002, according to a story in the Scranton Tribune, Dombek and an associate, John Trotta, were arrested for the attempted theft of a jackhammer from an equipment company. In October of last year, the paper reported that Dombek was sentenced to 15-30 months in the county jail for burglary and witness intimidation. The exact nature of the burglary wasn’t specified.

IBHOF Executive Director Ed Brophy, speaking to the Syracuse Post-Standard, said, “It was very upsetting to think that someone would have done this and the theft was devastating to the Boxing Hall of Fame and our community. Today we are grateful to learn of arrests being made in the case and are optimistic that justice will be served to those responsible.”

The arrests were the result of a joint effort between the F.B.I. and multiple law enforcement agencies. We will provide new details as they become available.

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