Picasso Thief Hails Cab After Heist

Wednesday, 06 July 2011 | by Pat's Picks

If you believe Hollywood, art heists are conducted in black ski masks, involve intricate blueprints and strategic getaway plans. The San Francisco Chronicle says the Picasso drawing that was stolen from a Bay Area gallery yesterday was humdrum by comparison. Police say a “well-dressed man in dark glasses” didn’t attract any attention as he entered the gallery, nor when he exited, Picasso in tow, and jumped into a waiting cab. Despite how easy the $200,000 drawing was to steal, experts say it will be much harder to sell: “The legitimate collectors won’t touch it. If you’re going to spend a certain amount of money, it behooves you to do some research into the ownership history of the work that’s offered.”