Vancouver police are looking for a suspect photographed by a video surveillance camera. They say she stole a valuable painting from a 105-year-old victim, and a photograph of the victim as a young woman.
Police are searching for a woman who they believe stole a valuable portrait of famous French writer Émile Zola from a 105-year-old woman.
Vancouver police Constable Anne Longley said a female suspect walked into the senior's room at a west-side nursing home on July 11 at 6:00 p.m. carrying a bouquet of flowers, a duffel bag and a large flat box suitable for carrying paintings.
Video surveillance showed the suspect going directly to the victim's room, and police are still working to determine whether the senior was inside her room at the time. The suspect was in the care home for a total of four minutes, and left her flowers behind.
The next day, family members noticed the Manet-style painting, along with a photograph of the victim as a teenager, were missing.
The oil painting, a copy of an original, has been appraised at $7,500, said Constable Longley. The other photo has great sentimental value, she said, adding that it was strange the two were stolen together.
Police are describing the suspect as a Caucasian woman between 30 to 35-years-old, about 5-foot-six, and 220 pounds. The woman had shoulder-length blond hair, and was wearing sunglasses, a black t-shirt, black pants and runners at the time of the incident.
Neither family nor staff said they recognize the woman, though police do believe the theft was a targeted one.
Police are asking the public as well as local art dealers and collectors to be on the lookout for the piece of art, and are warning care homes to be on guard.
"They should have a security plan in place and recognize that there are opportunistic thieves that may come in and take things from the residents," she said.