[MSN] Australia. DETECTIVES investigating the theft of two rare statuettes from an expensive Armadale antique dealer believe they were stolen to order.

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

Two art works stolen to order

December 05, 2007 12:00am

DETECTIVES investigating the theft of two rare statuettes from an expensive
Armadale antique dealer believe they were stolen to order.

The figurines are worth a combined $65,000. 

Police say the cat burglar knew what he was looking for because the
figurines were the only two items stolen from the Harlequin Antiques store
on High St. 

The burglar was in and out before security guards and police arrived. 

According to police, the burglar, or burglars, smashed the front glass
window and climbed over the security grille to gain entry to the store early
last Thursday morning. 

Sen-Det Tim Lawrence, of Stonnington CIU, said although High St would not
have been busy at that time of the morning the burglary was still a brazen
one. 

"It appears they were selective in what was stolen. It looks like they knew
what they were after," Sen-Det Lawrence said. 

There were three figurines on the table and they left the third behind. 

"These missing figurines could have been stolen for order. They're not the
sort of thing you'd take down to the local Cash Converters." 

The first stolen item is an early Art Deco gilt bronze figure. 

Entitled Rhada, and signed by Paul Phillipe, it depicts a gypsy dancer on a
stepped onyx base. 

It is 57cm tall and valued at $22,500. 

The second item is a French bronze and ivory figure valued at $42,500 and
entitled The Flute Player.

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