[MSN] MORE than 40 indigenous paintings, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and stolen from Melbourne galleries over the past 18 months, are thought to have ended up in the lucrative art markets of Europe and the US, where supply sources are much harder to

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

Stolen art on global markets
Corrie Perkin 
April 12, 2007 

MORE than 40 indigenous paintings, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars
and stolen from Melbourne galleries over the past 18 months, are thought to
have ended up in the lucrative art markets of Europe and the US, where
supply sources are much harder to trace.
International buyers, keen to get into one of the world's hottest art
movements, are less likely to demand authenticity papers if it helps them
purchase an indigenous painting. 
Most of the late-night heists have involved more than one person. At each
robbery, the galleries' windows or doors have been smashed, activating
security alarms. The thieves then appear to have grabbed paintings randomly
before making their getaway. 

Since December 2005, there have been eight break-ins at different Melbourne
locations, including the High on Art Aboriginal Gallery in Armadale, which
has been hit four times. 

The other galleries are the Aboriginal Gallery of Dreamings, the
twice-burgled Aboriginal Art Galleries of Australia, and last week Kimberley
Art. 

The robbery last week occurred at about 2am on April 3. Thieves stole 10
works valued at a total of $80,000. 

Detective Senior Constable Rebecca Hall of Victoria Police said yesterday:
"We want to alert art dealers and buyers in relation to these paintings, to
be on the look-out if a painting doesn't have a certificate of
authenticity." 

Claude Ullin is the owner of High on Art. "I'm shattered," he said
yesterday. 

"I can't sleep at night and I leave the mobile phone by the bed expecting to
get a phone call saying I've been burgled again." 

Mr Ullin said he believed the perpetrators had little or no understanding of
indigenous art. In the last break-in they left behind a painting worth
$65,000 that was right next to where they entered the building. 

"It's just a smash-and-grab situation," he said. "If they knew anything
about the work at all, they would be taking other primary works." 

The alarming spate of thefts has prompted renewed calls for the federal
Government to act quickly in its proposed shake-up of the industry. 

Yesterday, police released images of the stolen Kimberley Art paintings -
the same day the Government's Senate committee inquiry into the indigenous
art and craft sector held its final hearing. The inquiry's much-awaited
report will be released in June. 

"If works are stolen, hopefully it will force people to introduce 21st
century technology methods of tracking artworks as a deterrent," Aboriginal
art advocate Colin McKinnon said.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/