[CPProt.net] Museum theft. FBI will continue probe of Everhart thefts

[Museum Security and Cultural Property Protection (Ton Cremers)]

01/05/2006 
FBI will continue probe of Everhart thefts  
By Stacy Brown , Staff Writer  

The FBI will continue to do all it can to bring to justice those responsible
for the theft of two paintings from the Everhart Museum in November, a
spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Despite frustrating efforts to determine the value of one of the paintings
and statements made last month about whether the federal agency would
continue to investigate the case, the FBI said it has no plans on dropping
its investigation.
  
"I believe there was a misunderstanding (on whether the FBI would continue
investigating the Everhart theft)," said FBI spokeswoman Jerria Williams.

"We still consider this case an ongoing investigation, and we will continue
in our attempts to identify and charge those persons responsible for this
crime," Williams said.

In December, Williams had presented scenarios in which the FBI would
consider dropping the case, including the criteria for FBI involvement in
art theft cases - the paintings value must be at least $5,000 and 100
years-old or worth at least $100,000.

However, Williams said Wednesday there had been no formal discussions as to
whether the agency would stop its investigation.

Williams said the inability of the museum and its insurance company to come
up with a value of a 1949 Jackson Pollock painting taken in the Nov. 18
heist has not affected the FBI's investigation.

A reportedly similar painting by Pollock sold at a 2004 New York auction for
$11.6 million. However, museum officials have also been unable to verify the
painting's authenticity.

Museum officials said a 1984 Andy Warhol painting, stolen along with the
Pollock piece, was worth between $15,000 and $30,000.

The FBI have been working with Scranton Police Detectives trying to crack
the case.

"There isn't anything new at all with the case, we're still working and
hopefully at some point we'll get a break in the case that will lead to the
capture of those responsible and the recovery of the paintings," Scranton
Detective Capt. Al Leoncini said.

Museum spokesman Joe Palumbo said also that he had not been informed of any
new developments in the case.

Everhart executives have been meeting with representatives of Murray
Insurance since the theft, trying to work out the value of Pollock's work.

The painting's owner, a local artist who lent the work to the museum three
years ago and has requested anonymity for what he called safety reasons, has
said the Pollock painting had only sentimental value to him.

"It's worth nothing," he said. "There is no value. I never insured it and
never requested the Everhart to insure it." 

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