LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Stolen artwork valued at about $800,000 was turned over to authorities by a San Fernando resident who said the lithographs were found in a late relative's storage facility, Los Angeles police reported today.
The signed lithographs, by Benjamin Crème, were turned over to detectives on Sept. 25, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
“Detectives received a phone call from (police officers) in Mission Division about a person who discovered stolen artwork and wanted to turn the artwork over to authorities,” according to an LAPD statement. “Commercial Crimes (Division) detectives responded to the person's residence in the city of San Fernando where it had been stored for the past few years.”
The individual, whose name was withheld, told detectives that the artwork was previously in possession of a relative who had died a few years ago.
“The reporting person took the deceased relative's items out of storage and brought them to their residence,” police said. “Upon looking through the items from the deceased relative, the reporting person discovered the artwork was stolen after visiting a law enforcement website and immediately notified authorities.”
Photo: Los Angeles Police Department