Wednesday, March 17, 2004 | 10:50 a.m.
Elvis Presley sang, "You can do anything, but lay off my blue suede shoes."
Perhaps the thieves who broke into the Elvis-A-Rama museum Sunday took that command to heart. They stole more than $300,000 worth of Presley's jewelry but left behind the famous blue suede shoes -- valued at more than $1 million.
About 75 to 80 percent of the jewelry that was on display at the museum is now gone, Chris Davidson, owner of the museum at 3401 Industrial Road, near Spring Mountain Road at Interstate 15.
But Davidson is hoping the stolen memorabilia, which also included a gold-plated handgun, a custom scarf, a bracelet and watch that all once belonging to Presley, will make a comeback -- just like the King did in 1968.
"It's only been two days," Davidson said. "By no means am I giving up hope" that the memorabilia will be returned. He expects to make an announcement today about a reward.
The burglars apparently stole a tow truck from Auto Guardian and drove it into the museum's rear roll-up door about 11 p.m. Sunday, triggering the building's burglar alarm, said Metro Police Lt. Larry Spinosa, who is hoping the burglars get to live a few choruses of "Jailhouse Rock."
When Davidson arrived at the museum, he saw that the thieves had used the tow truck to lift up the door. He didn't think anything would be missing from his collection, however.
"I wasn't expecting any drama because the cases are bulletproof," he said.
But the thieves, apparently wielding lead pipes, hit three of the thick Plexiglas cases with enough force to break them open. They were in the museum for less than five minutes.
The burglars were selective in what they stole, Davidson said. They snatched just "high-end jewelry," he said.
Davidson's all-time favorite piece was stolen, a 1975 "E.P" diamond pendant and chain. He used to wear it but he put it in a display case a few months ago when the chain began bothering his neck, he said.
Another favorite was a 41-carat star ruby and diamond ring. Presley bought the ring in Las Vegas in 1975 for $75,000.
"Those two pieces, I'm crushed over," Davidson said. "It's sad to me that they're gone. It's devastating."
Two pieces that were less valuable but historically significant were Presley's Humes High School ring from 1953 and a Louisiana Hayride "E. Presley Day" ring from 1956.
The total value of the pieces is estimated at $325,000.
Davidson, who opened the museum in November 1999, purchased the items from auctions as well Presley's former bodyguards, friends and casual acquaintances. Presley was known to freely give away jewelry and other possessions.
Davidson said whoever stole the memorabilia probably intends on selling the items, but without the letters of authenticity, they won't be worth much.
The bandits could have been fanatical fans "who just had to have the stuff," he said, or a broker of stolen goods could have commissioned them to steal certain items.
Davidson thinks the thieves will have a hard time finding buyers for the items because people now know the pieces are stolen property. He believes the reason why the blue suede shoes weren't taken is because they are so famous that "they would have had a hard time moving them."
Spinosa said detectives will be visiting pawn stores and looking on eBay for the items as well as looking at a security video.
At the museum Tuesday, there was no sign that a burglary had taken place. The smashed cases had been replaced. But an observant Elvis fan would notice that few pieces of jewelry were on display.
Louise Hanson of Pennsylvania said she expected to see more rings, but said the Elvis impersonator who performed at the museum was so good that he made up for the missing jewelry.
Kathie Shorter of Michigan, at the museum with her husband, Denny, said: "Jewelry was a big part of his life. ... I think it's pretty sad that someone would do that. Who are they going to sell it to?"
Darlene Tompkins, who appeared in the 1961 Presley film "Blue Hawaii," was autographing pictures Tuesday afternoon at the museum.
She said without the documentation authenticating the items, the jewelry would be far less valuable, pointing out that anyone can have gold jewelry made with Elvis stamped on it.
The burglary is "heartbreaking because this is a private collection," she said, and Davidson "wanted to share it with people. ... Some people will never see those things now."
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