In a bold move reminiscent of movie-style heists, 32-year-old Harpreet Singh tried to quickly make off with priceless artwork from the American Fine Art Gallery in Scottsdale, including pieces by icons such as Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. However, the would-be thief's plan was foiled when Scottsdale Police, aided by a drone, nabbed him on the gallery's rooftop in the early hours of last Sunday. "I was actually here at 5 a.m., watching it all go down. I saw the guy on the roof, and so it was an action-packed morning," artist and gallery owner across the street, Phillip Payne, told AZ Family.
The attempted heist commenced around 5:45 am and led to an American Fine Art employee to quickly inspect the premises after an alarm system was triggered. According to The Art Newspaper, the presence of the intruder was betrayed by the sound of a phone call in a gallery office. Singh, who is facing several felonies including burglary, had scattered the stolen artworks across nearby rooftops before being caught.
While initially estimated to be worth $250,000, the gallery director later surmised that the potential loss could have been in the millions. Despite the dramatic events, neighborhood galleries are not unduly shaken, reassured by the presence of advanced security systems. "People put their heart and souls into creating these pieces. So making sure we’re protecting the artists’ livelihood. We put a lot into making sure things are locked down and we have cameras and security systems," Payne explained in a statement obtained by AZ Family.
The Scottsdale Police have not only foiled the heist but have also managed to recover the pilfered artworks, bar one original Keith Haring piece still missing. While Singh has asked the judge for bond reduction, due to his past criminal record of burglary in California, his request was denied, sealing his bond at $50,000. "Just to attempt a theft of an art gallery, to me indicates some level of sophistication," former FBI agent Jim Egelston told The Art Newspaper, suggesting a possibility that a buyer might have been in line for these stolen masterpieces.
The Scottsdale Police Department is urging anyone with information regarding the missing Keith Haring work to come forward, hoping to fully resolve the attempted art gallery heist that shook Scottsdale.
