[MSN] Eight paintings and three glass sculptures, worth a total of more than $50, 000, were stolen from an upscale downtown Toronto gallery early Tuesday.

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Paintings, sculptures stolen from gallery
May 19, 2006. 08:19 PM
MEGHAN HURLEY
STAFF REPORTER


Eight paintings and three glass sculptures, worth a total of more than
$50,000, were stolen from an upscale downtown Toronto gallery early Tuesday.
One original and five limited edition paintings created by Michael Godard
were stolen in a break and enter at the Life is Intoxicating gallery. Three
men smashed open the glass front door and entered the gallery, police said. 

These paintings were among some of the most valuable pieces exhibited at the
Bloor Street West gallery, owner Vaughn Warrington said Friday. 

Godard is the number-one seller internationally of gicleé limited edition
paintings, Warrington said.

Two of Emanuel Mattini’s paintings and three of David Wight’s glass
sculptures were also taken from the gallery. All three artists are known
worldwide for their artwork, Warrington said. 

The gallery has plate glass walls and the artwork can be seen from the
street, police report. 

But Warrington said he thinks the suspects monitored the gallery closely
before the theft occurred.

“Anybody who has a storefront has glass so every storefront owner faces
these challenges. I believe that they had watched us because they stole
certain things that weren’t visible from the street. They stole a couple of
rare originals and we are disgusted they have stolen two unreplaceable
pieces of artwork,” Warrington said.

Warrington thinks it might be hard to track down the suspects.

“As in most art that’s stolen it doesn’t always hit the street. It often
winds up in private collections somewhere,” Warrington told the Star. “We
have made every gallery owner worldwide aware of this so they can watch for
it.”

No arrests have been made and anyone with information is asked to contact
police at 416-808-5306. 

http://www.thestar.com/