Bielefeld: Woman apparently steals oil paintings from the museum in broad daylight

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The painting »Portrait of a Young Woman« by the Dutch painter Pieter Aertsen

Photo: Police Bielefeld / dpa

A woman apparently stole an oil painting from a Bielefeld museum in broad daylight.

According to witnesses, the unidentified woman carried a large folder with a red cord under her arm as she entered and exited the museum.

Inside was the painting, about 36 by 47 centimeters in size, which had been separated from its wooden frame, according to the Bielefeld police.

Accordingly, the woman stole the picture on Wednesday afternoon between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

According to the police, the work was a "Portrait of a Young Woman" by the Dutch painter Pieter Aertsen from 1561.

Police are looking for witnesses

The value of the oil painting "cannot be estimated exactly," said Udo Witthaus, Bielefeld's head of culture.

A large part of Pieter Aertsen's art was lost, for example, through wars.

"In the sense of preserving a cultural heritage, this work is of particular importance."

The suspect was around 22 to 28 years old and had a "very well-groomed appearance," according to the police.

The officials are now looking for witnesses who can provide information about the painting or the person they are looking for.

At the alleged time of the theft, another visitor was in the museum premises.

ktz/afp