[MSN] Canberra police are investigating the theft of almost $50, 000 of artworks from a Gungahlin gallery.

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Tuesday, February 27, 2007. 0:25am (AEDT)
Thieves steal Canberra artworks worth $50,000
Canberra police are investigating the theft of almost $50,000 of artworks
from a Gungahlin gallery. 

Two men in a grey vehicle were seen outside the Aarwun Gallery about 7am
AEDT on Sunday morning and it is believed they stole five Robert Dickerson
paintings, a David Boyd painting, and a Pro Hart bible cover. 

Gallery owner, Robert Stephens, says it is obvious the intruders knew what
they were doing.

"I certainly think it was more calculated, because no-one's going to rush
into a gallery and take a complete wall of paintings without realising who
the artist is and the value of those paintings, so I suspect it was very
much a targeted theft," he said.

Mr Stephens says art collectors should be aware of suspicious sellers. 

"I'm quite sure anyone who's offered a Robert Dickerson would really have to
question where it's come from, particularly in Canberra," he said.

"Because they're not the sort thing that are generally flogged, for want of
a better expression, around the street - they're a gallery piece."