Post by [xG]juddski on May 4, 2007 12:26:08 GMT
AN art dealer and his family were subjected to a 'horrific' attack by knife-wielding thieves who stole works by LS Lowry worth about £2m.
The raiders tied up Ivan Aird at his home in Cheshire and threatened to kill his two-year-old daughter before making off with a number of paintings.
Mr Aird, 41, is a leading collector of works by the Salford painter, who had been a family friend.
The three robbers burst in when his wife Teresa, 40, opened the front door of their home in Stockport, believing it was the postman.
Mr Aird, who was trussed up with cable, said later: "They burst through the door with a big knife and said they would kill our two-year-old daughter Sabrina, who was in my wife's arms."
Escape
The raiders escaped from the house in Brackenwood Drive, Cheadle Hulme, with 10 paintings, including one formerly owned by legendary actor Sir Alec Guinness, and pencil sketches by the famous 'matchstick men' artist.
Among these were The Bridge of Ringley, The Surgery and a pencil line drawing of a street market. They also took Mr Aird's pallet and paintbrushes.
Det Chief Insp Linda Reid, of Stockport CID, said: "This would appear to be a targeted attack by burglars who knew exactly what they were looking for.
"These paintings are extremely valuable to collectors, but someone would have to know the right people to sell them on to. The brutality these men showed to the Aird family was horrific. They may not have physically harmed them, but they were left extremely shaken by the whole ordeal."
Visitor
Mr Aird knew Lowry through his father George, and the artist was a regular visitor at the family's home most weekends from the 1960s until his death in 1976.
One thug was described as white, in his 30s, with a round face.
He wore a fluorescent jacket. Another was of mixed race and the third wore a balaclava. All three had local accents.
Police have received reports of a light blue estate car or people carrier seen outside the house around the time of the robbery, shortly before 8am yesterday.
WHAT THE WORLD COMING TO........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The raiders tied up Ivan Aird at his home in Cheshire and threatened to kill his two-year-old daughter before making off with a number of paintings.
Mr Aird, 41, is a leading collector of works by the Salford painter, who had been a family friend.
The three robbers burst in when his wife Teresa, 40, opened the front door of their home in Stockport, believing it was the postman.
Mr Aird, who was trussed up with cable, said later: "They burst through the door with a big knife and said they would kill our two-year-old daughter Sabrina, who was in my wife's arms."
Escape
The raiders escaped from the house in Brackenwood Drive, Cheadle Hulme, with 10 paintings, including one formerly owned by legendary actor Sir Alec Guinness, and pencil sketches by the famous 'matchstick men' artist.
Among these were The Bridge of Ringley, The Surgery and a pencil line drawing of a street market. They also took Mr Aird's pallet and paintbrushes.
Det Chief Insp Linda Reid, of Stockport CID, said: "This would appear to be a targeted attack by burglars who knew exactly what they were looking for.
"These paintings are extremely valuable to collectors, but someone would have to know the right people to sell them on to. The brutality these men showed to the Aird family was horrific. They may not have physically harmed them, but they were left extremely shaken by the whole ordeal."
Visitor
Mr Aird knew Lowry through his father George, and the artist was a regular visitor at the family's home most weekends from the 1960s until his death in 1976.
One thug was described as white, in his 30s, with a round face.
He wore a fluorescent jacket. Another was of mixed race and the third wore a balaclava. All three had local accents.
Police have received reports of a light blue estate car or people carrier seen outside the house around the time of the robbery, shortly before 8am yesterday.
WHAT THE WORLD COMING TO........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!