[MSN] UK. Thieves threatened to kill girl, 2, as they stole Lowrys at knifepoint

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  Thieves threatened to kill girl, 2, as they stole Lowrys at knifepoint


      By Ian Herbert


        Published: 05 May 2007

An art dealer who knew LS Lowry from childhood was attacked and tied up 
by knife-wielding thieves who stole works by the artist worth more than 
£1.4m.

The raiders assaulted Ivan Aird, 41, at his home in Cheadle Hulme, 
Cheshire, on Thursday and threatened to kill his two-year-old daughter 
before making off with prized paintings, The Viaduct, valued at more 
than £700,000, The Tanker Entering the Tyne, worth up to £600,000, and 
treasured brushes and a pallete which belonged to Lowry.

Mr Aird knew Lowry through his father George, and the artist was a 
regular visitor at the family's home most weekends from the 1960s until 
his death in 1976. Mr Aird described yesterday how he was forced onto 
his knees, with his hands behind his back by robbers who threatened to 
kill his daughter Sabrina, who was in his wife's arms.

"The guys burst in through the door with a big knife," said Mr Aird. 
"They tied me up with cable ties and put me down on the floor. All they 
said was they were going to murder me. It was absolutely terrifying.

"I've been a lifelong fan of LS Lowry. My father bought paintings from 
him. They [the stolen paintings] are very well known. If these people 
try to sell the paintings on, they will be recognised so I am hoping we 
will get them back."

The theft reflects soaring demand for Lowry (1887-1976), one of the most 
collectable British artists. The value of his work has been increasing 
at between 20 and 25 per cent a year. Another Cheshire gallery owner 
lost a £115,000 Lowry oil last September when masked robbers armed with 
a cast-iron manhole cover broke into his gallery in the village of Hale. 
The gang heaved the cover out of a pavement a quarter of a mile away 
from the Clark Art Gallery and hurled it through the plate glass front 
window to secure access, having tried and failed to run a wooden plank 
through the gallery's windows.

Once inside, the thieves picked out 15 paintings. The Lowry oil was 
among three pieces by the Salford artist that were taken, along with Sit 
Terry Frost's Red Wedge, valued at £52,000.

Britain's art market is second only to the US and experts claim up to 
£200m worth of stolen art and antiques are sold each year. Interpol 
estimates that art theft is the fourth largest organised crime. However, 
Scotland Yard's arts and antique squad has been scaled down and has left 
the nation's heritage in peril, according to fine art insurers.

Also stolen in the latest raid were Pencil Sketch of The Surgery, valued 
at £38,000 and Pencil Line Drawing The Street Market, valued at £50,000.

Police yesterday released photographs of the stolen paintings and have 
also produced an e-fit of one of the offenders, described as white, in 
his 30s, with a round face and wearing a fluorescent jacket. Another is 
described as mixed race and the third was wearing a balaclava. All three 
spoke with local accents.

Detective Chief Inspector Linda Reid, from Stockport CID, said: "This 
would appear to be a targeted attack by burglars who knew exactly what 
they were looking for."

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk