THIEVES AND ART

Hawera Star, Volume L, 28 October 1930, Page 7

THIEVES AND ART

HOAV PICTURES ARE STOLEN.

CLEARING HOUSE IN PARIS

Investigations into the recent outbreak of thefts of valuable pictures in England have led to the discovery that the clearing house for the proceeds of raids of this description is a little office in Paris. The ‘‘Sunday Chronicle” has been given full particulars of the workings pf this office by one who recently visited it. “In this office were to be found reference files giving the present home of almost every picture of value/’ he said. “Any sales were carefully checked from the newspapers and the new address of the old master carefully noted. ........... “The thieves thus worked systematically . choosing their pictures beforehand and knowing exactly where they were to- be found.” A correspondent says: “In Paris there are a number of studios where well-known stolen pictures are exhibited. You meet an ‘arty’ looking man in a cafe. He learns that you are interested in pictures, and he offers to conduct you to a ' studio, where a unique collection is on view. You: are shown four or five good pictures all cut out of their frames. You buy one for cash, and the words that echo in your ears, as you get into your taxi are, “Don’t trouble to come hack -in dn hour’s time, because bve shan’t ‘be here!’

“I once visited a studio in this iyay in the company of a wealthy American, and on returning ten minutes after the sale I found only a puzzled housekeeper who told me that there was no one in the house.”

The pictures, of course, are sold as copies, and at the moment there are probably many people with pictures which they believe to be copies, but which are actually worth thousands of pounds. ~ - ,

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