Most of the value is in the workmanship, C. I doubt the “jewels” are very good ones and there isn’t much gold or silver in those crowns, even less in the staffs but they are expensive.
As the article notes, +Isaiah was a Marine. He is one tough guy and a good hierarch. His chancellor, Fr. Luke Uhl, is a former Navy officer, a good chancellor and another one with guts. They both stood for Orthodoxy when the chips were down a few years back.
That’s why I said it’s a real shame. But some petty criminal probably broke into the car, and if all he can get is a few hundred dollars to feed his drug habit, I’m afraid he’ll take it.
Religious art is to the glory of God, but that’s not something that criminals or clandestine collectors understand.