[MSN] UK. SEVERAL paintings stolen in a raid on a church art exhibition have been recovered just 300 yards from the scene.

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Walker finds artwork stolen from church
SEVERAL paintings stolen in a raid on a church art exhibition have been
recovered just 300 yards from the scene.

The paintings were taken, along with a blue canvas artist's bag, when
thieves broke into the Fraiser Room, next to St Laurence Church, Surfleet,
overnight on Tuesday, April 25.
They were part of a 156-piece exhibition on display to complement the
church's flower festival.
Now six of the seven missing works have been recovered undamaged after being
discovered by a man out walking his dog at Surfleet Lows Nature Reserve.
Churchwarden Douglas Drakard said: "The man was out walking when he spotted
a blue canvas bag in the spinney.
"He had read about the theft in the paper and thought it might be something
to do with it so he had a look and found 
the paintings.
"He got in touch with us and we took them to the police, who have had them
ever since to carry out forensic investigation.
"It seems that the paintings were dumped along with the artist's bag.
"They were outside for six days but fortunately don't seem to be damaged,
which is great news for the artists."
The most expensive painting, a country scene painted and 
signed by Robert C Harper, is still missing.
Mr Drakard added: "We made a full search of the area and didn't find the
remaining painting, so we can only assume the thieves took it.
"We think it was an opportunist theft and that they broke in hoping to find
some money.
"They had a feast on the cakes that were there for the festival and probably
took the paintings as an afterthought."
Despite the theft, both the exhibition and the flower festival were a great
success, raising a total of £3,300 for 
the church.
Mr Drakard said: "The morning we discovered the break-in was quite
traumatic. There were paintings and cakes all over the floor when we got to
the scene.
"We actually lost some trade through it because we had to turn away two
coaches while the police 
carried out forensic investigations at the scene.
"However, the artists were brilliant and allowed us to carry on with the
exhibition which turned out to be a great success.
"We sold about ten paintings and raised more than £300 from the exhibition
alone."

Anyone with any information on the theft is asked to contact Spalding Police
on 01775 722233 quoting incident number 82 of Wednesday, April 26.
15 May 2006

http://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/