Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Jan 6, 2007 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Burglars escaped with more than $200,000 in paintings, a rare unbound Bible and seven framed poems from an art gallery at Auckland University in New Zealand.
The theft took place at the university's library sometime between Dec. 21 and Wednesday. The items stolen were a Charles Goldie painting, seven framed poems by Colin McCaho, and an unbound Bible donated by American poet Raymond Danowski. Police are currently interviewing everyone who had access to the library and reviewing security camera footage, the Dominion Post reported Saturday.
The university was on break for the holidays when the thefts took place. A spokeswoman for the university told the newspaper that the items were always guarded while the university was open.
Auckland police believe the heist, which appeared to be carefully planned, was targeting specific items for illegal export and sale on the black market. The families who donated the items to the university were stunned when they heard the news, the Post reported.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2007 by United Press International
