Punk Band Finds and Returns $250K Stolen Painting
- January 12, 2015 12:18
Punk band Stereo Fire Empire discovered a painting stolen from a New Orleans gallery propped up against a wall after playing a gig at the House of Blues, reports the BBC.
Bassist Elliot Newkirk says the band's guitarist recognized the missing George Rodrigues painting from a recent Facebook post on its theft. "Wendy and Me" features the artist's signature blue dog next to his second wife, Wendy, and the work was used as their wedding invitation. Rodrigues died in 2013.
An unknown suspect walked into the New Orleans gallery George Rodrigues Studios and took the work right off the wall in broad daylight. Video surveillence has captured the thief's image.
The band walked the painting over the police station, filming themselves, and calling the incident a "Scooby Doo adventure" that will merit a song. Police will use DNA evidence to help search for the theif.
