Latest news with #Picassos
Ottawa Citizen
4 days ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Arizona art thief who was caught 'mid-heist' is sentenced to five years
A thief who was arrested on the roof of an art gallery in Scottsdale, Ariz., has been sentenced to five years in prison for stealing seven artworks, including three Picassos and two Warhols, worth a quarter of a million dollars. Article content Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced that Harpreet Singh, aged 33, pleaded guilty to one count of theft. Article content Article content 'Art heists may seem glamorous in the movies, but in Maricopa County, they end with a prison sentence instead of a dramatic getaway,' Mitchell said. 'Thanks to the quick response from Scottsdale Police and MCAO prosecutors Richelle Burch and Jonathan Hutcheson, the only art this thief will be looking at for the next few years will be whatever's etched on the walls of his cell.' Article content According to a release from the Attorney's office and police reports, the theft occurred in the early hours of Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. The owner of American Fine Art Gallery arrived and noticed several paintings missing as well as noises from the floor above, and called police. Article content Scottsdale Police arrived and found Singh's BMW parked directly below an emergency access ladder leading to the roof. Atop the gallery, they found art pieces scattered around, along with a face mask, gloves and several tools. Article content With the help of a drone, they were able to spot Singh lying on the roof of another gallery nearby, where he was arrested. He told police he was homeless and came up to the roof to sleep, and denied owning a BMW. Police found the keys for the car next to him. Article content On January 7th, officers responded to an art gallery where an alarm was activated, with a possible subject still inside. Using the drone, the suspect was located and placed under arrest by Scottsdale PD. Art valued at around $250,000 was scattered throughout the rooftops. — ScottsdalePD (@ScottsdalePD) January 11, 2024 Article content After his arrest, Singh was released on $50,000 bail and ordered to wear and ankle monitor and not to leave Arizona, but court records say the monitor was found in a trash bin on March 6. Meanwhile, Singh didn't show up for hearings in April or May, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was taken into custody again in Nevada. Article content Article content Singh has also pleaded guilty to one count of interference with monitoring devices for cutting off his ankle monitor. He was given 3.5 years of supervised probation for that offence. Article content Meanwhile, ABC News reported that Singh had been arrested less than a month earlier on a separate art theft in West Hollywood, Calif. He had been charged with breaking into the Hamilton-Selway Fine Art gallery on Dec. 22 and stealing two Warhol edition prints valued at nearly $100,000. Article content Less than a week later, detectives arrested Singh outside another art gallery in West Hollywood. He was allegedly carrying one of the stolen Warhol prints; the other was found in his car. Article content
Calgary Herald
4 days ago
- Calgary Herald
Arizona art thief who was caught 'mid-heist' is sentenced to five years
A thief who was arrested on the roof of an art gallery in Scottsdale, Ariz., has been sentenced to five years in prison for stealing seven artworks, including three Picassos and two Warhols, worth a quarter of a million dollars. Article content Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced that Harpreet Singh, aged 33, pleaded guilty to one count of theft. Article content Article content 'Art heists may seem glamorous in the movies, but in Maricopa County, they end with a prison sentence instead of a dramatic getaway,' Mitchell said. 'Thanks to the quick response from Scottsdale Police and MCAO prosecutors Richelle Burch and Jonathan Hutcheson, the only art this thief will be looking at for the next few years will be whatever's etched on the walls of his cell.' Article content According to a release from the Attorney's office and police reports, the theft occurred in the early hours of Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. The owner of American Fine Art Gallery arrived and noticed several paintings missing as well as noises from the floor above, and called police. Article content Scottsdale Police arrived and found Singh's BMW parked directly below an emergency access ladder leading to the roof. Atop the gallery, they found art pieces scattered around, along with a face mask, gloves and several tools. Article content With the help of a drone, they were able to spot Singh lying on the roof of another gallery nearby, where he was arrested. He told police he was homeless and came up to the roof to sleep, and denied owning a BMW. Police found the keys for the car next to him. Article content On January 7th, officers responded to an art gallery where an alarm was activated, with a possible subject still inside. Using the drone, the suspect was located and placed under arrest by Scottsdale PD. Art valued at around $250,000 was scattered throughout the rooftops. — ScottsdalePD (@ScottsdalePD) January 11, 2024 Article content After his arrest, Singh was released on $50,000 bail and ordered to wear and ankle monitor and not to leave Arizona, but court records say the monitor was found in a trash bin on March 6. Meanwhile, Singh didn't show up for hearings in April or May, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was taken into custody again in Nevada. Article content Article content Singh has also pleaded guilty to one count of interference with monitoring devices for cutting off his ankle monitor. He was given 3.5 years of supervised probation for that offence. Article content Meanwhile, ABC News reported that Singh had been arrested less than a month earlier on a separate art theft in West Hollywood, Calif. He had been charged with breaking into the Hamilton-Selway Fine Art gallery on Dec. 22 and stealing two Warhol edition prints valued at nearly $100,000. Article content Less than a week later, detectives arrested Singh outside another art gallery in West Hollywood. He was allegedly carrying one of the stolen Warhol prints; the other was found in his car. Article content
Vancouver Sun
4 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
Arizona art thief who was caught 'mid-heist' is sentenced to five years
A thief who was arrested on the roof of an art gallery in Scottsdale, Ariz., has been sentenced to five years in prison for stealing seven artworks, including three Picassos and two Warhols, worth a quarter of a million dollars. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced that Harpreet Singh, aged 33, pleaded guilty to one count of theft. 'Art heists may seem glamorous in the movies, but in Maricopa County, they end with a prison sentence instead of a dramatic getaway,' Mitchell said. 'Thanks to the quick response from Scottsdale Police and MCAO prosecutors Richelle Burch and Jonathan Hutcheson, the only art this thief will be looking at for the next few years will be whatever's etched on the walls of his cell.' According to a release from the Attorney's office and police reports, the theft occurred in the early hours of Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. The owner of American Fine Art Gallery arrived and noticed several paintings missing as well as noises from the floor above, and called police. Scottsdale Police arrived and found Singh's BMW parked directly below an emergency access ladder leading to the roof. Atop the gallery, they found art pieces scattered around, along with a face mask, gloves and several tools. With the help of a drone, they were able to spot Singh lying on the roof of another gallery nearby, where he was arrested. He told police he was homeless and came up to the roof to sleep, and denied owning a BMW. Police found the keys for the car next to him. On January 7th, officers responded to an art gallery where an alarm was activated, with a possible subject still inside. Using the drone, the suspect was located and placed under arrest by Scottsdale PD. Art valued at around $250,000 was scattered throughout the rooftops. After his arrest, Singh was released on $50,000 bail and ordered to wear and ankle monitor and not to leave Arizona, but court records say the monitor was found in a trash bin on March 6. Meanwhile, Singh didn't show up for hearings in April or May, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was taken into custody again in Nevada. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Singh has also pleaded guilty to one count of interference with monitoring devices for cutting off his ankle monitor. He was given 3.5 years of supervised probation for that offence. Meanwhile, ABC News reported that Singh had been arrested less than a month earlier on a separate art theft in West Hollywood, Calif. He had been charged with breaking into the Hamilton-Selway Fine Art gallery on Dec. 22 and stealing two Warhol edition prints valued at nearly $100,000. Less than a week later, detectives arrested Singh outside another art gallery in West Hollywood. He was allegedly carrying one of the stolen Warhol prints; the other was found in his car. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Edmonton Journal
Arizona art thief who was caught 'mid-heist' is sentenced to five years
Article content A thief who was arrested on the roof of an art gallery in Scottsdale, Ariz., has been sentenced to five years in prison for stealing seven artworks, including three Picassos and two Warhols, worth a quarter of a million dollars. Article content Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced that Harpreet Singh, aged 33, pleaded guilty to one count of theft. Article content Article content 'Art heists may seem glamorous in the movies, but in Maricopa County, they end with a prison sentence instead of a dramatic getaway,' Mitchell said. 'Thanks to the quick response from Scottsdale Police and MCAO prosecutors Richelle Burch and Jonathan Hutcheson, the only art this thief will be looking at for the next few years will be whatever's etched on the walls of his cell.' Article content According to a release from the Attorney's office and police reports, the theft occurred in the early hours of Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. The owner of American Fine Art Gallery arrived and noticed several paintings missing as well as noises from the floor above, and called police. Article content Scottsdale Police arrived and found Singh's BMW parked directly below an emergency access ladder leading to the roof. Atop the gallery, they found art pieces scattered around, along with a face mask, gloves and several tools. Article content With the help of a drone, they were able to spot Singh lying on the roof of another gallery nearby, where he was arrested. He told police he was homeless and came up to the roof to sleep, and denied owning a BMW. Police found the keys for the car next to him. Article content On January 7th, officers responded to an art gallery where an alarm was activated, with a possible subject still inside. Using the drone, the suspect was located and placed under arrest by Scottsdale PD. Art valued at around $250,000 was scattered throughout the rooftops. — ScottsdalePD (@ScottsdalePD) January 11, 2024 Article content After his arrest, Singh was released on $50,000 bail and ordered to wear and ankle monitor and not to leave Arizona, but court records say the monitor was found in a trash bin on March 6. Meanwhile, Singh didn't show up for hearings in April or May, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was taken into custody again in Nevada. Article content Article content Singh has also pleaded guilty to one count of interference with monitoring devices for cutting off his ankle monitor. He was given 3.5 years of supervised probation for that offence. Article content Meanwhile, ABC News reported that Singh had been arrested less than a month earlier on a separate art theft in West Hollywood, Calif. He had been charged with breaking into the Hamilton-Selway Fine Art gallery on Dec. 22 and stealing two Warhol edition prints valued at nearly $100,000. Article content Less than a week later, detectives arrested Singh outside another art gallery in West Hollywood. He was allegedly carrying one of the stolen Warhol prints; the other was found in his car. Article content
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Miami Herald
Man ‘caught mid-heist' tried to steal Picasso, Warhol pieces, AZ officials say
A man accused of trying to make off with seven pieces of art – including works by Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol – is heading to prison, Arizona prosecutors said. Harpreet Singh, 33, was sentenced to five years behind bars after pleading guilty to one felony count of theft, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office said in a July 23 news release. He was also ordered to serve 3.5 years on supervised probation in connection with cutting his ankle monitor after he posted bond, prosecutors said. Julio Laboy, Singh's attorney, told McClatchy News in a July 24 phone call that it's been frustrating to see the case receive outsize attention, including through the news release. His client 'isn't a mastermind,' he said, but instead, 'this is the confluence of' addiction and mental health struggles. Laboy said Singh has accepted responsibility for his actions and is taking strides to make changes in his life. Singh was 'caught mid-heist' in January 2024, prosecutors said. An alarm was triggered at Scottsdale's American Fine Art Inc., and a responding employee discovered 'several pieces of art missing from the walls,' according to prosecutors. The employee 'also heard someone in an upstairs office and called the police,' prosecutors said. Officers saw a person on the roof and found art 'scattered around' up there, along with tools, a mask and gloves, prosecutors said. Singh's car was parked under an emergency ladder, and he was arrested after being found on a roof nearby, according to prosecutors. 'Among the seven artworks he tried to steal were three Picassos and two Warhols,' according to prosecutors. In the news release, County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said 'art heists may seem glamorous in the movies, but in Maricopa County, they end with a prison sentence instead of a dramatic getaway.' She added that, thanks to police and prosecutors, 'the only art this thief will be looking at for the next few years will be whatever's etched on the walls of his cell.'
