CHELSEA — An art-minded bandit hit the bar of the Dream Downtown hotel in Chelsea early Tuesday, racking up a tab using a stolen credit card before snatching a $20,000 Bradley Theodore painting from a wall and escaping with it, sources told DNAinfo New York.
Sources said the slender thief, sporting long slicked-back dark hair, was casually enjoying a few cocktails inside the trendy Dream hotel on W. 16th Street at around 2:50 a.m. Tuesday.
He finished his drink, paid his tab and then headed out the bar passing through a small gallery room ringed with Theodore's works.
There, he allegedly reached up and grabbed a roughly 3 feet by 4 feet painting from a gallery collection and fled into the street, leaving behind a nail where the painting was.
Police said the stolen painting was worth $20,000, but a description on which painting was taken was not immediately available.
Theodore had a large showing at the Dream last summer. His paintings range from works depicting neon skeletal images to abstract portraits of fashion industry icons and models.
On Monday, the hotel had moved a smaller Theodore work from another ensemble, and apparently placed it in the space where the stolen painting had been.
Hotel officials referred inquiries to a company spokesman, who did not immediately respond for comment.
Meanwhile, the police believe the credit card used by the thief was a fraud or stolen.
They are asking anyone with information to call 1-800-577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
