[CPProt.net] Art thieves take 11 paintings from Parade of Homes house

[MSN CPPnet]

Art thieves take 11 paintings from Parade of Homes house Friday, 
June 10, 2005 
By Ed Ronco 

The Grand Rapids Press GRAND RAPIDS -- Whoever stole 11 works of art from a
Parade of Homes house on the city's Northeast Side must not have been in
much of a hurry. 

Thieves replaced artwork taken from the first-floor with artwork from the
home's second floor. They also took time to move placards that hung next to
the works -- making sure everything was properly labeled. 

The culprits even took a water break: A couple of empty water bottles were
found on a counter. 
Ten original paintings and one photograph were stolen from the house, at
2540 Lawncrest Drive NE, sometime overnight between June 2 and 3. 

The home is part of the annual Parade of Homes -- a two-week event that ends
Saturday, sponsored by the Home &Building Association of Greater Grand
Rapids. 

Most houses for sale are decorated with furniture, so prospective buyers get
to see a finished product. The Lawncrest house had no furniture but instead
was decorated with original artwork by local artists Michael Pfleghaar and
Tommy Allen. 

Pfleghaar said he just wants his work back. 

"This is such a blow because this is how I make my living," the Grand Rapids
artist said. 

Pfleghaar has been making his living off of art for 15 years after
graduating from Grand Valley State University in 1988. He and Allen have
notified local galleries be on the lookout for their works. 

"They all have pictures of the works that were taken," he said. 

The two artists also have been scouring the online auction service eBay,
although the massive volume of artwork that moves through eBay makes it hard
to narrow the search, Pfleghaar said. 

Allen said it took he and Pfleghaar a long time to hang the artwork, so for
the thieves to take down some paintings and re-hang others was not easy. 

Grand Rapids Police Sgt. James Potter said it looks like the thieves got
into the house by breaking the box holding the access key. 

The artists are asking anyone with information on the theft to call the
Silent Observer tip line at (616) 774-2345. 



http://www.mlive.com/