NEWS

FBI announces reward of up to $25,000 in Springfield museum theft case

Gregory J. Holman
GHOLMAN@NEWS-LEADER.COM
"Tomato" is considered the most expensive and sought-after "Campbell's Soup I" screenprint from Andy Warhol's 1968 series of 10. It usually sells for around $70,000, said London-based art dealer Gul Coskun. On Wednesday, April 14, 2016, a Colorado-based artist offered Springfield a set of her Warhol-inspired prints.

Late Monday, the FBI announced a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the recovery of art stolen from the Springfield Art Museum last week.

According to an FBI news release, it is believed the break-in and theft occurred sometime during the early morning hours on April 7, 2016, at which time seven of 10 Andy Warhol prints on permanent display at the museum were taken.

FBI and Interpol alerted: Springfield Art Museum official says Warhol prints stolen

The collection, which has been owned by the Springfield Art Museum since 1985, is set number 31 of Warhol's "Campbell’s Soup I" collection and is valued at approximately $500,000.

Each print in the collection measures 37 inches high by 24.5 inches wide and are framed in white frames.

The FBI also released images of the stolen Warhol screenprints.

Director: Springfield museum has video surveillance 'throughout the building'

The FBI asked anyone with information to contact the FBI Springfield office directly at 417-882-3303 or the Springfield Police Department TIPS line at 417-869-TIPS.

The seven stolen prints all come from the 1968 "Campbell's Soup I" series, including:

Campbell's Soup I (Beef)
Campbell's Soup I (Vegetable)
Campbell's Soup I (Tomato)
Campbell's Soup I (Onion)
Campbell's Soup I (Green Pea)
Campbell's Soup I (Chicken Noodle)
Campbell's Soup I (Black Bean)