Hand-Carved Restaurant Sign Stolen From Italian Spot

An Italian restaurant in Sturbridge fell victim to a theft recently. The owner's hand-carved restaurant sign was stolen, prompting him to post a note about the sign on Facebook. Christopher Rovezzi is the chef/owner of Rovezzi's Ristorante, located near the Brimfield Flea Markets, and he shared his disgust over the theft.

Rovezzi said the stolen piece was the first sign ever made for his business. "The sign that once hung was proof that I had made it. That all my hard work and financial stress was worth it. It was the solid proof that from this point forward, I alone was responsible for what happens to me going forward and for the rest of my life," he wrote.

The photo posted with the note showed a vacant space on the wall outside the restaurant where the sign used to hang. Rovezzi said stolen silverware or wall hangings from the restaurant were replaceable, but "the feeling that I got ever day when I walked past the first sign I ever had" was not.

The restaurant features Italian and seafood dishes and is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m.