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Picasso Thief Busted

NJ wine steward nabbed for theft of $200K sketch

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 8, 2011 2:04 AM CDT | Updated Jul 8, 2011 5:17 AM CDT

(Newser) – A thief who strolled out of a San Francisco gallery with a stolen Picasso has been arrested and the 1965 pencil sketch has been recovered, police say. The suspect, a man who flew in from New Jersey the day before the theft, was found staying with friends in Northern California's wine country, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Police say he had the sketch ready for shipment and it "would have been in a FedEx box somewhere" if they had found him a day later.

Investigators tracked the man down after finding a cabbie who took him from near the gallery to an upscale hotel. The 30-year-old suspect, who has no major criminal record, has worked as a wine steward in high-end East Coast restaurants. "We can assume he has good taste, and how he was going to finance that good taste, perhaps, was based upon his success in obtaining a valuable piece of art," the chief investigator says.

San Francisco police chief Greg Suhr, left, speaks at a news conference. The recovered Picasso in the foreground is worth around $200,000.
San Francisco police chief Greg Suhr, left, speaks at a news conference. The recovered Picasso in the foreground is worth around $200,000.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
This handout photo provided by the San Francisco Police Department shows suspect Mark Lugo.
This handout photo provided by the San Francisco Police Department shows suspect Mark Lugo.   (AP Photo/San Francisco Police Department, handout)
Surveillance video provided by Lefty O'Doul's restaurant shows the suspect walking with the stolen Picasso.
Surveillance video provided by Lefty O'Doul's restaurant shows the suspect walking with the stolen Picasso.   (AP Photo/Lefty O'Doul's)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
JoeQ
Jul 8, 2011 3:14 PM CDT
Pretty dumb of him to have himself dropped off at the door to the hotel he was actually staying at.
LoginsSuck
Jul 8, 2011 10:36 AM CDT
He is doing better than most Americans with expensive tastes (living beyond their means). At least he had a "plan" to pay for them.
SBS
Jul 8, 2011 10:05 AM CDT
How in the world do you stroll out of an art gallery with a valuable painting?  Looking for a new head of security?

 
San Francisco • Picasso • Pablo Picasso • art thieves • art theft

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