Dozens of paintings stolen from the residence of a wealthy couple in the Laurentians are likely destined to end up in the hands of organized crime figures who value artwork as a form of currency, an expert on the subject says. According to La Presse, 25 to 30 paintings were stolen from a home owned by Mitzi Steinberg-Dobrin, heir to the former Steinberg grocery chain, and her husband Mel Dobrin, a former president of the same chain. Some of the paintings are estimated to be worth more than $100,000. Alain Lacoursière, a former detective with the Montreal police who specialized in recovering stolen artwork, said valuable stolen paintings often end up in the hands of organized crime figures even if they can never be hung on a wall and appreciated for their beauty. Related“To people in organized crime they represent 20 per cent of the cash value of the painting.

Source: National Post October 22, 2016 14:26 UTC