(NOTE: This story was updated on 3-25-26 with comments from the Rye Arts Center.)
A display of rock geodes from a main benefactor of the Rye Arts Center (RAC) has been stolen. Five large geodes on loan from local benefactor Robert R. Wiener were stolen from an outdoor display just outside the front door of the RAC on 51 Milton Road. The Rye police are asking for the public’s help identifying anyone who migh have hauled away the rocks over this past weekend.
The rock caper began back in February, when the first of five geodes were stolen. Surprised the RAC had no outdoor security cameras on its property, the Rye PD had limited information for detectives to act on and recommended the RAC consider installing security cameras. The RAC apparently took the advice and installed the added security.
Fast forward to some time between last Friday, March 20 at 6:00pm and Monday, March 23 at 9:00am and four additional geodes were stolen.
“We asked them for the footage to review, and they said that they had some kind of camera malfunction and they had no footage to give us,” Rye PD Lieutentant Mike Anfuso told MyRye.com. “[The PD is asking has] anybody seen anything suspicious around the rock garden over the weekend? We’re looking any any tips.”
The police were told the collection of geodes are worth about $2,000.
The geodes are part of the Robert R. Wiener Geode Garden at the RAC. Weiner, a Mamaroneck resident, chairman at Maxx Properties and head of The Wiener Philanthropy, is a long time RAC benefactor. “At a heavily attended town meeting in 1984, Mr. Robert R. Wiener stood up before the citizens of Rye and the City’s leadership to decry this plan and to pledge his support for saving the Center,” explains the RAC on its website. “From 1984-1987, Bob spearheaded the so-called “51 Milton Campaign” that raised community support and the necessary funds to renovate and reclaim our home.”
More recently, Wiener bought the 25 Milton Road property adjacent to the current RAC and donated it to be used as the future arts center. Weiner’s philanthropy descibes him as an “avid collector of geodes” over four decades and that he “shares these spectacular minerals with schools, museums and other public institutions both in the New York Metropolitan Area and throughout Israel.” In neaby Greenwich, The Bruce Museum houses the permanent The Robert R. Wiener Mineral Gallery.
“We are really disappointed that this happened,” RAC Executive Director Adam Levi told MyRye.com. “The geodes brighten everyone’s day when they see them, especially the kids who regularly stop by to enjoy them in the garden. They truly are “nature’s art.” Hoping that whoever took them has a change of heart and returns them to their home.”
Levi emphasised the RAC takes safety and security seriously and told MyRye.com it recently added a large outdoor light above the geode garden to illuminate the space and provide safety for visitors in the evening.
Any member of the public with information that might assist this rocky caper should call Rye PD on 914-967-1234 and ask to speak with Lieutentant Mike Anfuso.
