ART THEFTS EASY.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1921, Page 1

ART THEFTS EASY.

PARIS, -May 7. It. would he easy for any thief to enter the Salon du Jen de Pnmne at night and carry off one of the most valuable Dutch masterpieces there, says Mr E. V. Lucas, the English author. , The collection of paintings, worth more than £2.000,000 and including several of Rembrandt’s works and three of the onlv certain known Vermeer’s in the world, is left quite unguarded at night, he says. To prove this, Mr Lucas, with a French artist friend, experimented the other night. Meeting in the Place de la Concorde at- midnight, they climbed the walls of the Tuilcries Gardens in the full glare of the arc lamps of the Place. After wandering through the grounds without meeting a watchman, they went to the Salon. With, the aid of a couple of chairs lying about the path they scaled the walls and gazed through the unprotected windows at the valuable paintings within easy reach. Had they so desired, said Mr Lucas, it would have been easy to steal Vermeer's masterpiece “Head of a Young Girl,” a work which could easily he concealed under a man’s coat. After strolling back through the gardens, Mr Lucas and his friend climbed the railings without incident.