THREE HOODED THIEVES STOLE A TRUCK CONTAINING 28 PIECES OF ART INCLUDING WORKS BY PICASSO, COLOMBIAN ARTIST FERNANDO BOTERO AND SPANISH SCULPTOR EDUARDO CHILLIDA, SPANISH POLICE SAID RECENTLY. A POLICE STATEMENT SAID THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN FROM A WAREHOUSE NEAR THE TOWN OF GETAFE ON MADRID'S SOUTHERN OUTSKIRTS LAST SATURDAY. OFFICERS WENT TO THE WAREHOUSE AFTER AN ALARM SOUNDED AND FOUND THE DOOR OF THE BUILDING HAD BEEN FORCED OPEN. ON ARRIVAL, THE OWNER TOLD POLICE THAT THE TRUCK WAS MISSING. A POLICE OFFICER SAID SECURITY CAMERA RECORDINGS SHOWED THE ROBBERY WAS CARRIED OUT BY THREE HOODED PERSONS AND THAT THE KEYS HAD BEEN LEFT INSIDE THE TRUCK. HE SAID THE TRUCK WAS NOT ARMORED. THE OFFICIAL SPOKE ON THE CONDITION OF ANONYMITY IN LINE WITH DEPARTMENT RULES. POLICE FOUND THE VEHICLE EMPTY IN A NEARBY AREA OF ALCORON, SOUTHWEST OF THE CAPITAL. POLICE PROVIDED NO DETAILS OF THE WORKS OTHER THAN THE ESTIMATE VALUE TO BE AROUND $6.6 MILLION, ADDING THAT SEVERAL OF THE PIECES WERE NOT INSURED. THE WORKS BELONGED TO SIX GALLERIES IN MADRID, BARCELONA AND COLOGNE, GERMANY. THEY HAD JUST COME BACK FROM BEING ON EXHIBIT IN GERMANY. CRISOSTOMO, THE SPANISH TRANSPORT COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE, DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE THEFT. DAVID FERNANDEZ DIRECTOR OF THE JUAN GRIS GALLERY IN MADRID SAID THEY HAD A SCULPTURE AND A COLLAGE BY CHILLIDA STOLEN IN THE THEFT. 'IT GAVE US A BIG FRIGHT BECAUSE NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO US', HE TOLD SPANISH NATIONAL RADIO. 'WE'RE UPSET BECAUSE THEY ARE IMPORTANT PIECES AND IRREPLACEABLE.'
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