Police Arrest Thief Attempting To Steal Picasso, Warhol Paintings From Scottsdale Art Gallery

PHOTO CREDIT: AZFAMILY

A dramatic rooftop capture of a suspect attempting to steal a collection of expensive artwork, including pieces from renowned artists, brought an attempted art heist in Scottsdale to a close. Although the police were successful in making an arrest, one of the pieces of art is still unaccounted for.

According to authorities, Harpreet Singh, 32, was caught trying to steal a collection of seven artworks, which included pieces by esteemed artists such as Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. Initially, the estimated value of the stolen pieces was $250,000, but the director of the gallery now suspects that the heist could have been worth millions.

The American Fine Art Gallery, located near Scottsdale and Indian School Roads, appears to have empty spaces on their studio walls. The building’s signage references renowned artists such as Banksy and Warhol, which may have drawn the attention of Singh. He has been accused of taking down seven paintings from the gallery walls on Sunday.

It is speculated that Singh gained entrance to the gallery by using an emergency access ladder, which set off an alarm. He was later apprehended on the rooftop with items such as a face mask, gloves, a small drill, flashlight, and glass-breaking tool in his possession. According to authorities it was a deliberate and specific act as the perpetrators seemed to have a clear goal in mind.

Despite the recent events, neighboring art galleries are not overly concerned, as they understand the importance of investing in expensive security systems for their valuable pieces.

According to authorities this attempt seemed to be a carefully planned scheme, with a certain degree of refinement. The possibility of a hidden buyer for the stolen art pieces has sparked curiosity. Selling such one-of-a-kind and priceless artworks online would be a challenging task, making it likely that there was a prearranged buyer for the stolen items.

Singh is currently charged with multiple felonies, including burglary, which he has previously been found guilty of in California. During his initial court hearing on Monday, he requested that the judge lower his bail amount. However, due to his past criminal history, the judge decided to maintain the bail at $50,000.

Scottsdale Police are appealing to individuals with any knowledge about the whereabouts of the original Keith Haring artwork that is currently missing.