The Saanich Police Department seized more than 1,000 pieces of fine art during an investigation into a local art dealer in Oak Bay, BC..The confiscated stash — worth tens of millions of dollars, according to police — included three original Emily Carr paintings and one David Blackwood watercolour..The owner contacted Saanich police on April 11, 2022 to report they had entrusted the local dealer with the Carr and Blackwood paintings for consignment and potential sale at the gallery the previous month, however the owner grew concerned when the gallery promptly closed without warning and the dealer stopped answering calls..Following investigation, police uncovered several other victims with similar stories in relation to the art dealer..However the dealer’s hustle was evidently ham-fisted, as three search warrants were approved and executed by detectives with the Major Crime Unit in the following days at storage facilities in Saanich, Oak Bay, and Langford — locating a large collection of stolen art..The initial search found 600 pieces, the following more than 100, and the final search uncovered more than 300 pieces, totalling more than 1,000..All of the art is currently stored in a secure location..The arrested dealer’s identity has not yet been released since charges have not been sworn in court. Investigators are preparing a report to Crown counsel recommending criminal charges for multiple counts of fraud and false pretense..As for those ripped off by the dealer, Saanich police says it is “in constant communication with them” in order to have all of the artwork returned to its owners..“The dealer was taking art from people with the intention of consigning or appraising the art, later ceasing all contact, all the while selling the art without reimbursing the owners or artists,” reads a statement from police..The dealer was arrested on April 21, only 10 days after the Carr and Blackwood owner filed a report..Reid Small is a BC-based reporter for the Western Standard.,rsmall@westernstandard.news,.Twitter.com/reidsmall
The Saanich Police Department seized more than 1,000 pieces of fine art during an investigation into a local art dealer in Oak Bay, BC..The confiscated stash — worth tens of millions of dollars, according to police — included three original Emily Carr paintings and one David Blackwood watercolour..The owner contacted Saanich police on April 11, 2022 to report they had entrusted the local dealer with the Carr and Blackwood paintings for consignment and potential sale at the gallery the previous month, however the owner grew concerned when the gallery promptly closed without warning and the dealer stopped answering calls..Following investigation, police uncovered several other victims with similar stories in relation to the art dealer..However the dealer’s hustle was evidently ham-fisted, as three search warrants were approved and executed by detectives with the Major Crime Unit in the following days at storage facilities in Saanich, Oak Bay, and Langford — locating a large collection of stolen art..The initial search found 600 pieces, the following more than 100, and the final search uncovered more than 300 pieces, totalling more than 1,000..All of the art is currently stored in a secure location..The arrested dealer’s identity has not yet been released since charges have not been sworn in court. Investigators are preparing a report to Crown counsel recommending criminal charges for multiple counts of fraud and false pretense..As for those ripped off by the dealer, Saanich police says it is “in constant communication with them” in order to have all of the artwork returned to its owners..“The dealer was taking art from people with the intention of consigning or appraising the art, later ceasing all contact, all the while selling the art without reimbursing the owners or artists,” reads a statement from police..The dealer was arrested on April 21, only 10 days after the Carr and Blackwood owner filed a report..Reid Small is a BC-based reporter for the Western Standard.,rsmall@westernstandard.news,.Twitter.com/reidsmall
