Before few people even knew it was there, millions of dollars worth of artwork nestled away in Corktown has vanished.
The FBI says that sometime between April 27-29, the Andy Warhol silkscreen used to produce "Flowers" and 18 works by other artists were stolen from a business in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. The feds would not identify the victim or the business, but said the works were not on display -- nor locked up.
FBI spokesman Simon Shaykhet said a reward of $5,000 is being offered for information on the artworks by Warhol, Larry Rivers, Francesco Clemente, Philip Taaffe, Peter Schuyff and Joseph Beuys.
"Whoever is involved may have planned to or may have already transported (the art) outside state lines or possibly outside the country," Shaykhet said. "Given the nature of this crime and the value of the artwork stolen, we're alerting anyone in the art industry, as well as local pawn shops and those who shop online, that thieves could use any of those avenues to try and sell the stolen goods."
He said the artwork is listed on the National Stolen Art database and can be viewed on the FBI's website, www.fbi.gov.
Anyone with information on the theft is asked to contact their nearest FBI field office. The Detroit office can be reached 24 hours a day 313-965-2323.
