Stolen artwork returned to S. Lake Tahoe gallery

The art has been returned to the gallery. Photo/Provided

A painting worth more than $1,000 that was stolen from a South Lake Tahoe gallery has been recovered.

Someone stole the artwork on Dec. 9 from the sidewalk display in front of Pacific Crest Gallery in the Heavenly Village. It had a sales price of $1,195.

Gallery staff then saw it for sale on Craigslist.

A South Lake Tahoe police detective posed as a possible buyer, negotiating a sales price of $1,000. Detectives with assistance of El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office investigators met the seller at his residence in Sacramento.

The painting was serialized and it was confirmed to be the stolen painting.  

The suspect, whose name is being withheld, is cooperating with the investigation. How the suspect came into possession of the painting is still under investigation. 

— Lake Tahoe News staff report