[MSN] SF: OWNER OF STOLEN ARTWORK OFFERS $10,000 REWARD

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SF: OWNER OF STOLEN ARTWORK OFFERS $10,000 REWARD
03/01/07 3:55 PST

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

An East Coast man who had $250,000 worth of artwork stolen from his car in San Francisco last month is offering $10,000 for its return, he announced today.

"No questions asked -- I'll hand them $10,000 cash if they hand me the artwork," the owner of the stolen prints said. He did not give his name on the advice of police, he said.

The man had flown to the Bay Area Feb. 3 to try to sell the artwork, which had been in his personal collection for about 20 years. He met with potential buyers at a gallery in San Francisco, then drove his rental car to the Stonestown Galleria because he had forgotten to pack a tie. While he shopped, thieves broke into the car in the Macy's parking lot and stole his 12 numbered lithographs.

Inspector Vince Repetto of the San Francisco Police Department's auto detail said last month that one of the reproductions, a 1960s Marilyn Monroe portrait by pop artist Andy Warhol, could be worth over $100,000. The owner was not insured, according to Repetto.

The car burglary occurred sometime between 5:30 p.m. and 6:40 p.m. The burglar or burglars smashed the window of the rental car and took the valuables, Repetto said.

According to Repetto, police believe professionals may have pulled off the crime. The thieves probably followed their target from gallery to gallery as he attempted to sell the lithographs, much in the same way robbers follow people attempting to sell jewelry.

He said these types of crooks are often foreign nationals who immediately leave the area to sell their goods.

"Sometimes they use violent methods," Repetto said. "The victim in this case was lucky he wasn't around when the crooks showed up."

The stolen artwork includes a Matisse lithograph, a Chagall lithograph, two Miro etchings, two Picasso lithographs and five Warhol screen prints.

Whoever is in possession of the artwork will likely have a hard time selling it for a large profit, the owner said. Each print is numbered and has been listed in registries of stolen art.

"They can get a few bucks for it, but not much more than they'd get for a poster you'd put on a wall," the owner said. "I'm not real happy about it, but I'm offering to buy my own stuff back. They'll probably make a lot more money."

The owner of the artwork said anyone in possession of the artwork should call (202) 657-4600 or e-mail art-reward at transworld.cc. No questions will be asked, he stressed.

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