[CPProt.net] Former worker held in art thefts

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cphighwaymen06aug06,0,199
8637.story?coll=sfla-news-broward 
Former worker held in art thefts
Employer lost 11 paintings by Highwaymen
   
 
 
By Casse Carling
Fort Pierce Tribune

August 6, 2005

FORT PIERCE . Friday was a great day at Jetson's TV & Appliance Centers,
chain owner John Jetson said. 

St. Lucie County sheriff's deputies arrested a former employee who allegedly
stole cash, checks and 11 of Jetson's Highwaymen paintings, officials said. 

Jeffrey Rodriguez, 39, of Fort Pierce, was charged with grand theft,
burglary and possession of cocaine and paraphernalia Friday afternoon,
reports said. 

"Rodriguez was a suspect from the beginning," Sheriff Ken Mascara said. 

A total of 10 Highwaymen paintings were recovered. Three additional A.E.
"Bean" Backus prints were with the Highwaymen paintings, although they are
"someone else's treasures," Jetson said. 

One painting has not been recovered, he said. 

In late June, Rodriguez allegedly stole 10 of Jetson's paintings and about
$1,500 in cash and checks during two break-ins at the Jetson store south of
Fort Pierce, and one Highwaymen painting and cash and checks worth about
$9,200 at the Jetson store in Vero Beach. 

Jetson has a collection of 114 paintings by the Highwaymen, a group of 26
artists who painted Florida landscapes and sold them out of the trunks of
their cars. He bought his first in 1974 from Alfred Hair, a student of the
late Backus. 

Authorities received a tip from Brevard County art dealer Barry Rehl, who
saw information in a newspaper about the stolen paintings. The art dealer
identified Rodriguez as the man who sold him the Highwaymen paintings. 

Rodriguez told Rehl the paintings came from a rental unit he had recently
cleaned out.

On Friday, officials arrested Rodriguez and his girlfriend, Elizabeth Smith,
for possession of cocaine and paraphernalia. Smith, 28, of Fort Pierce, told
officials she knew her boyfriend committed the burglaries when she saw the
paintings, reports stated. 

Rehl is entitled to the $20,000 reward, Jetson said. But when Rehl spoke to
officials, he did not mention a reward, Mascara added.