Man accused of stealing dinosaur claw during gem show in Tucson

TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - A man is accused of trying to sell a stolen fossilized dinosaur claw during a gem show in Tucson.

According to the Tucson Police Department, 39-year-old Christopher Thomas was arrested Feb. 9 on a felony charge of trafficking in stolen property.

The TPD said Thomas took the dinosaur claw worth $25,000 from Eric Miller on Jan. 30.

“Our hope was that if the thief showed it to anybody else in the show in any one of the numerous venues, they might recognize it and call me,” Miller said. “So that happened.”

The TPD said Thomas took the claw to another vendor Feb. 8 and tried to sell it for much less than it was worth.

The second vendor suspected the claw was stolen and contacted Miller. The vendors then arranged for Thomas to bring the claw to sell the next day, which is when police detained him.

The claw is now back in Colorado with Miller.

Tucson police say 39-year-old Christopher Thomas was charged with trafficking in stolen property. — Tucson police say 39-year-old Christopher Thomas was charged with trafficking in stolen property.(Tucson Police Department)

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