$25,000 reward after Andy Warhol paintings stolen from museum
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. --The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information after they say seven Andy Warhol paintings were stolen from a Springfield, Mo. art museum.
The break-in and theft at the Springfield Art Museum happened in the early morning hours Thursday, the FBI says. Seven of 10 Warhol paintings on permanent display there were taken. The collection depicting Campbell's Soup cans is in total is worth $500,000.
The collection has been owned by the southwest Missouri museum since 1985, according to the FBI.
A FBI spokeswoman told Reuters that no further information was being released on the details of the theft. The FBI's Art Crime Team is investigating.
In an interview with the Springfield News-Leader, the museum's director Nick Nelson confirmed that there is video surveillance throughout the building, but wouldn't say whether cameras captured any images of the theft.
"The museum is working with the proper authorities and being proactive in our security efforts as we remain open to the public. We are confident that the measures we taking will protect the museum's treasures, while still making art accessible to our community," Nelson said in a statement on the museum's website.
While the museum is open, the exhibit in which the paintings were displayed, "The Electric Garden of Our Minds: British/American Pop," is closed as a security measure, the statement read.
The paintings measure 37 inches high by 24.5 inches wide and are framed in white frames.
Anyone with information should contact the FBI Springfield, Missouri Resident Agency at (417) 882-3303 or the Springfield Police Department TIPS line at (417) 689-TIPS.