A man was recently arrested and charged after trying to steal artworks by Picasso, Warhol, and Keith Haring at a large art gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The incident took place at American Fine Art Inc. well before sunrise on January 7 and the targeted works were estimated to be worth $250,000.
“This guy was a seasoned professional,” American Fine Art director Phil Koss told ARTnews. “This wasn’t just a smash-and-grab.”
Around 5:45 a.m., senior international art consultant Jeff Dippold went to the gallery after an alarm went off. He called Koss after hearing someone barricaded inside the offices, prompting Koss to contact 911.
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The suspect, identified by police as Harpreet Singh, was arrested in a confrontation on the roof of American Fine Art Inc.
“When the police came down with the backpack, and the crowbar and all the other stuff, the gloves, it was like right out of, Thomas Crown or something,” Koss said.
“It appears the suspect forced entry through a part of the roof and gained access to the gallery,” Scottsdale public information officer Aaron Bolin said an emailed statement to ARTnews. “His vehicle was found parked in an alley nearby below and emergency ladder that provided access to the roof.”
Officers surrounded the building, located the suspect, and ensured he did not escape off the roof. A drone and a police dog were also involved in the early morning arrest.
After Singh was taken into police custody, court documents show officers found several pieces of artwork scattered on the roof of American Fine Art as well as on the rooftops of neighboring businesses, according to a report published by local news station CBS 5. “Police also recovered clothing, including a face mask and gloves as well as a small drill, a flashlight and a glass-break tool.”
While the statement from Scottsdale police sent to ARTnews said one of the works from the incident, Lucky Strike by Keith Haring, was still missing, Koss said everything had been returned. “We’ve got them all back. He never got away anything.”
“I was so happy not to have to make a claim,” he added.
According to court records from Maricopa County Jail, Singh has been charged with with two counts of criminal trespass and burglary and one count of theft. His bond has been set at $50,000. He has already been convicted of burglary in the state of California.