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| Damien Hirst art works stolen from Notting Hill Gallery | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Two signed Damien Hirst works of art worth £33,000 have been stolen from a west London gallery four days after being displayed. | Two signed Damien Hirst works of art worth £33,000 have been stolen from a west London gallery four days after being displayed. |
| The pieces were taken from the Exhibitionist Gallery in Notting Hill in the early hours of Monday. | The pieces were taken from the Exhibitionist Gallery in Notting Hill in the early hours of Monday. |
| The stolen works, called Pyronin Y and Oleoylsarcosine, feature multi-coloured dots. | The stolen works, called Pyronin Y and Oleoylsarcosine, feature multi-coloured dots. |
| Police believe the artworks were specifically targeted and want witnesses to come forward. | Police believe the artworks were specifically targeted and want witnesses to come forward. |
| 'Take us under' | 'Take us under' |
| Gallery Manager Nathan Engelbrecht said his "heart sank" when he received a phone call from the police informing him of the break-in. | Gallery Manager Nathan Engelbrecht said his "heart sank" when he received a phone call from the police informing him of the break-in. |
| He said: "We opened in September and it was a bit of a coup to get the Hirst artworks. We had them for four days and then they were stolen. | He said: "We opened in September and it was a bit of a coup to get the Hirst artworks. We had them for four days and then they were stolen. |
| "We wanted Hirst to be in the Christmas show and to help raise our profile and to show people we can get the big names in, so it's a big hit and here's hoping insurance will cover it, if it doesn't it will probably take us under. | "We wanted Hirst to be in the Christmas show and to help raise our profile and to show people we can get the big names in, so it's a big hit and here's hoping insurance will cover it, if it doesn't it will probably take us under. |
| "It took us a few weeks of negotiations and to have them stolen is really disappointing. They [Damien Hirst's representatives] have been understanding that these things do happen." | "It took us a few weeks of negotiations and to have them stolen is really disappointing. They [Damien Hirst's representatives] have been understanding that these things do happen." |
| Pyronin Y is the larger of the two measuring 40in (1m) by 46in (1.2m). It was produced in 2005 and is worth £15,000. | Pyronin Y is the larger of the two measuring 40in (1m) by 46in (1.2m). It was produced in 2005 and is worth £15,000. |
| Oleoylsarcosine was created in 2008 and is worth £18,000. Its dimensions are 26in (67cm) x 35in (89cm). | Oleoylsarcosine was created in 2008 and is worth £18,000. Its dimensions are 26in (67cm) x 35in (89cm). |
| A Metropolitan Police spokesman said just one person carried out the theft and he may have left in a car. | A Metropolitan Police spokesman said just one person carried out the theft and he may have left in a car. |
| Det Sgt Jon Lightfoot said: "It appears the suspect has specifically targeted the two pieces. | Det Sgt Jon Lightfoot said: "It appears the suspect has specifically targeted the two pieces. |
| "The items would have been visible in the back of the car and we are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to please come forward." | "The items would have been visible in the back of the car and we are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to please come forward." |
| Turner Prize | Turner Prize |
| Mr Engelbrecht said: "We think we were specifically targeted because on Monday we're closed, and they went for the specific paintings. There were other Hirst works and other big-named artists downstairs. | Mr Engelbrecht said: "We think we were specifically targeted because on Monday we're closed, and they went for the specific paintings. There were other Hirst works and other big-named artists downstairs. |
| "At the moment, we're literally on the phone trying to find some new artwork for the Christmas season." | "At the moment, we're literally on the phone trying to find some new artwork for the Christmas season." |
| Hirst rose to fame as part of a group known as the Young British Artists and is probably best known for a series of works in which he preserved animals, including a shark and a sheep, in formaldehyde. | Hirst rose to fame as part of a group known as the Young British Artists and is probably best known for a series of works in which he preserved animals, including a shark and a sheep, in formaldehyde. |
| He was awarded the Turner Prize in 1995. | He was awarded the Turner Prize in 1995. |
| Hirst's more recent works include Verity, a 66ft bronze-plated statue of a pregnant, naked woman wielding a sword, which was unveiled on Ilfracombe harbour in north Devon in October 2012. | Hirst's more recent works include Verity, a 66ft bronze-plated statue of a pregnant, naked woman wielding a sword, which was unveiled on Ilfracombe harbour in north Devon in October 2012. |
| A spokesman for the artist said: "This is a police matter and I'm afraid we cannot comment." | A spokesman for the artist said: "This is a police matter and I'm afraid we cannot comment." |