[MSN] insurance company has offered a £70,000 reward for information on the armed gang that broke into a house in Cheadle Hulme and escaped with five paintings by renowned artist LS Lowry.

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

£70k reward for stolen Lowry paintings 
Tuesday, 05 Jun 2007 18:19 
Police are urging witnesses to come 


An insurance company has offered a £70,000 reward for information on the
armed gang that broke into a house in Cheadle Hulme and escaped with five
paintings by renowned artist LS Lowry.

AXA has put up the reward for the first person who provides information
leading to the arrest of the offenders and recovery of the paintings, which
include The Viaduct, valued at £600,000, and Tanker entering the Tyne,
valued at £700,000.

The paintings were stolen from the home of Ivan Aird, a 41-year-old fine
arts dealer, in the early hours of May 3rd. 

Greater Manchester police Detective Superintendent Tony Cook said: "This
incident came as a great shock to the Cheadle Hulme community.

"The stolen paintings are extremely valuable but also hold a great deal of
sentimental value for Mr Aird, as Mr Lowry was a close family friend. The
paintings are also north-west treasures and are a major part of the heritage
of the region."

Police have urged anyone with any information about the thieves or the
whereabouts of the paintings to contact the GMP major incident room or
Crimestoppers.

"Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could be the key
to tracing these people," DS Cook added.

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/ 
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