Three thieves were arrested for stealing $1 million worth of bronze art and selling the raw materials to a junk shop for a measly $4,000.

The owner of a Hinesburg scrap metal yard called authorities after seeing a newspaper report about the thefts with a photo of one of the sculptures.

The tip led to the suspects, who, upon investigation, were found to have stolen the 30 art pieces from Joel Fisher's studio in North Troy in November. The 60-year-old artist, who has exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and the Gallery Shimada in Yamaguchi, Japan, was traveling abroad when the heist took place.

The thieves decided to sell the copper in the bronze to the Hinesburg scrap yard instead of offering them to art collectors. Copper prices have surged in recent years to about $3 per pound

Vermont State Police Detective Lt. Jason Letourneau said stealing of copper wire is prevalent in the state.

"This theft is along the same lines," he said.

Only 23 sculptures weighing about 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms) were recovered from the scrap yard. Some of the sculptures ended up in Massachusetts, Letourneau said.