Man charged with stealing Wizard of Oz slippers

May 23, 2023

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A man has been charged by US police for stealing the famous red slippers worn by Dorothy, played by Judy Garland, in the classic movie The Wizard of Oz from 1939.

The stolen slippers, which are incredibly valuable, were discovered during an FBI operation in 2018. They had been taken from a museum back in August 2005, but no arrests were made at that time.

Police have now charged a 76-year-old man named Terry Martin from Minnesota with the theft of this major artwork.

These iconic red slippers are one of only four pairs in the world. They were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, by a thief who broke in through a window at the back of the building. The thief left no fingerprints, and the alarm system did not go off, according to CBS News.

The red slippers hold great significance in The Wizard of Oz. When Dorothy taps her heels together and says the famous words, “there’s no place like home,” she is magically transported back to Kansas.

These cherished Hollywood memorabilia items have been valued at $3.5 million, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota. They were insured for $1 million when they were stolen almost 18 years ago.

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