Police Search For Art Thieves Who Targeted Home For Sale
DENVER (CBS4)- Police in Denver are searching for thieves who targeted a home for sale and stole one-of-a-kind art and appliances.
The thieves got away with paintings worth about $40,000.
The homeowner didn't want to be identified for fear her home would be targeted again.
Police are hoping to zero in on the thieves because when expensive artwork is stolen there is a very specific community that the thieves will try to sell to.
The original landscape oil paintings were swiped right off the walls. The homeowner and her real estate agent walked in on the burglars as they were preparing for an open house.
When they walked through the front door they heard footsteps. Once inside they discovered the thieves had gotten inside through a side door, backed a vehicle into the garage and loaded up the stolen items before driving away.
Not only did they steal the artwork but also took a big screen TV and several kitchen appliances that included a stove, wall oven and microwave. All had been pulled out of the walls.
Police said the home was staged to appeal to potential buyers.
"You do stage your home, you want it to look good, you do want it to sell so you put items of value and you have people walking through you home that you don't normally have walking through your home," said Denver Police spokesman Sonny Jackson. "Our understanding is they did have an open house there, too."
The homeowner spoke with her construction company who said un-installing those appliances would have required multiple people to carry them out because of the weight. The thieves cut the power and could have spent several hours inside just to remove those appliances.
Additional Information From The Denver Police Department
Anyone with information is asked to call Denver police at (720) 913-2000. Remain anonymous and call Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867). Text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter the message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com.
