Police Are Puzzled by Theft of Artworks

Five days after artworks worth more than $1 million were stolen in Van Nuys, Los Angeles police remained puzzled over who took them and why.

About 8 p.m. Monday, a masked gunman tied up Robert Silver, part-owner of Eagle Limited’s warehouse, took his watch and wallet, loaded the artworks into the company van and escaped. Detectives said Friday that there are no suspects. All but three of the more than 3,700 stolen artworks were lithographs or serigraphs that would be difficult for the thieves to sell profitably, police said.

“This was not what you call a classic art theft,” Detective Lou Boozell said. “I haven’t decided whether we are dealing with professionals or someone who just came in off the street.”