4 accused of stealing Chihuly art from botanical gardens

DENVER, CO -- Four people have been charged with stealing blown-glass pieces by world-famous artist Dale Chihuly that were on display at the Denver Botanic Gardens.

One of the suspects charged Thursday told police they broke in on a whim in August because they were bored.

Alex Brook, Joseph Parnell, Sean Sorensen and Auvia Bellamy are accused of taking a glass orb and three glass cattails -- tall plants that grow near water -- worth about $100,000.

Court documents say they didn't realize the value of the items until seeing news reports about the theft. Police say the cattails were abandoned in a cornfield where they were eventually destroyed, likely by a crop-cutting machine. Authorities say Sorenson kept the orb.

Brook posted a Facebook message calling the theft a "bad drunk mistake."