Warhol artworks stolen from LA home

A multimillion dollar collection of Andy Warhol artwork has been stolen from a Los Angeles home.

LOS ANGELES // A multimillion dollar collection of Andy Warhol artwork depicting famous sporting figures has been stolen from a West Los Angeles home, police said. The 11 colour screen-prints, each 100cm by 100cm, were taken from businessman Richard Weisman's home sometime between September, 2 and 3, said Detective Mark Sommer of the Los Angeles Police Department's art theft detail. A $1 million reward was being offered for information leading to the return of the artwork. The editioned prints were on display in Mr Weisman's living room and his house was locked up. It wasn't clear exactly when the silk screen works were taken or how the thieves got into the home. The theft was discovered by the family's longtime nanny who arrived at the home to find the large works missing from the walls. She immediately went to a neighbour's to call police, Detective Sommer said on Friday. "This was a very clean crime," Detective Sommer said. "(The home) wasn't ransacked." The stolen pictures include images of OJ Simpson, Muhammad Ali, football star Pele and tennis champion Chris Evert. It wasn't known exactly how much they were worth but Mr Weisman tried to sell the collection in 2002 for $3 million. Mr Weisman's home contained other valuable artwork but this was untouched. "For some reason they had an interest in this collection," Detective Sommer said. A neighbour saw a maroon van in the driveway of Mr Weisman's home around the time of the robbery, and police are seeking more information about that, Detective Sommer said. Mr Weisman declined to comment about details of the case. Detective Don Hrycyk said the week-long delay in announcing the theft was to allow detectives to confirm the reward and gather descriptions and photographs of the missing artworks.

*AP