Famous portraits by Czech artist Gottfried Lindauer have been taken from an Auckland gallery.
The two paintings, which were painted in 1884, were taken from inside the glass window at the International Art Centre in Parnell.
The two paintings, one of Chieftainess Ngatai–Raure and and the other of Chief Ngatai-Raure, were due to be auctioned in the coming weeks. Their estimated value was between NZ$350,000 to NZ$450,000 each.
New Zealand police said the theft occurred at 4am on Saturday.
Police were concerned the paintings may be smuggled out of New Zealand. They had found the vehicle used to ram the window and were searching for another.
Such heists were usually conducted by opportunists looking to make quick money but the distinctive nature of the portraits would make that very difficult.
Jackson said border police and Interpol would have been alerted to keep a lookout for the stolen portraits but there was a risk they could already have suffered damage.
28 Responses
Why would people EVER do that?
no way this can’t be true. But it might be true. But its horrible
i saw this next to the park
Wow this is just sad
The thief must have gone to ?? instead of hiding in ?? also $1000000 ?!!!
That is terrible
hi this is so sad
Why do people always do that
ya why would people do that
this is like a replay of the coin robbery a few days ago. This is part of our culture as well, which is even sadder.
Sad
Sad
That what happend when you put it on a window they should of put it in the museum .
Sooo sad
oh no!
That’s terrible, I hope they find them
I feel so sad. People are so ignorant… heaps of people are saying funny/great/amazing news. People who say that should fell really bad, this is terrible, terrible news, terrible people…
thats sad
Why would someone do this?? this is so BAD!! :[
THAT IS SOOOO DIAPOINTING FOR AUCKLAND THEY HAVE ACTULLY BEEN LOSING A LOT OF THINGS THESE LAST FEW WEEKS
This is a outrage beacuse i am in new zelend
How can someone steal a painting so priceless! I thought painting that were worth so much money had very high security!
what are they gonna do with them annyway they cant sell them because if they do the police with find them and arrest them NO won will buy them
That’s really bad
Wow they shouldn’t be doing that they cost so much money this is a outrage!
Why didn’t they have the top security guarding the pictures and have a alarm
thats so sad
sadddddddddy I could cry