Police recover $25,000 sculpture from “art thieves gang”

POLICE have busted an “art thieves gang” that stole a 200kg sculpture from Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Artists Gillie and Marc Schattner’s bronze “Paparazzi Dog” was taken from outside the OPUS store on Oxford St, Paddington in December last year.

The couple had threatened to hire a private investigator if the $25,000 metal sculpture was not returned within days.

e49efc74d306857011ba07ba215fe793

A spokeswoman for the Schattners said an anonymous caller yesterday gave the OPUS store an address at Maroubra.

“The anonymous tip, Gillie and Marc believe to have come from a business in the Paddington area, which showed that it worked rallying everyone together,” she said.

“Today we got a call from NSW police that they have broken the art thieves gang and (rescued) our bronze stolen Paparazzi dog.

 

e613cf4d4316210bcdc83a53ef9aaca3-1

“Warrants were issued late last night and the police raided a home in Maroubra.

“Paparazzi dog was found hidden under cover in a garage.

“Sadly he has sustained damage with the camera broken but we will repair him so he is brand new.”

23c17ee261edd2411ac9ce538a3f4047-1f7dffa4bbe2c61b455f49ee4dd587035-1READ FULL STORY >