Antique wall clocks targeted by thieves at Northwest Fresno law firms

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- An empty spot on the wall was left by thieves at two Northwest Fresno law offices. Several victims say crooks broke into their offices with one ticking target in mind.

The criminals didn't stay inside the buildings long. The victims say they broke through the door and went right for the antiques on the wall.

Attorney Michael Margosian's office wall now has an empty spot that used to house an antique Seth Thomas No. 2 clock. "It came from my mother-in-law and father-in-law," Margosian said. "It was a clock from the mid-1800s. It was an old clock."

It was an antique with a high sentimental and financial value. Just over a week ago, Margosian got an early wakeup call when someone pried through his security fence then shattered his office door and stole the clock.

When Margosian got the call he thought he'd find his office torn apart, but nothing else had been touched.

"I walked straight down and the clock was gone," he said. "I thought someone had seen it and knew what it was. The officers who were here said it obviously, they believed, was someone who knew what they were coming for."

Then Margosian heard of a similar theft that happened a few weeks before, at the Wild, Carter and Tipton law office down the street. The door there had been pried open and the only thing missing was an antique wall clock. This one was a hand-carved Gazo that had been there for years.

The owners at Tower Clock Shop say both antiques are worth several thousand dollars. And both are such huge pieces of craftsmanship they aren't easily moved, let alone stolen in the night.

"You're not going to be running, I mean, maybe two people or a really strong guy, without damaging it," Sharon Anaya said.

Weights in the clocks are supposed to be specially stored when transported or the glass and wood can be heavily damaged. No one knows what the thieves are doing with the stolen goods because they're not being sold or pawned locally.

Both law firms are actively watching sites like Craigslist and eBay to hopefully spot their clocks, but they have had no luck so far.