Few people think of restaurants as targets for art theft. This recent press note caught our eye. 

Noted Pleasanton (CA) artist Charlotte Severin said yesterday that three of her
five original paintings were stolen from the front lobby of the Pleasanton
Hotel restaurant Dec. 30. She estimated the value of the three paintings at
$2,000. The theft, which Severin noticed when she went to the hotel for a New Year’s
Eve dinner, apparently took place during a late night party the night before.
Severin said two of her paintings were left untouched on the walls near the
restaurant’s bar, but the three that were taken were hanging on both sides
of the front lobby walls, where they’ve been hanging on a “loan” basis for
six months.

We don’t see many of these. A theft of artwork from a restaurant may make it to a small town newspaper, but rarely, and rarely beyond that. After all, the works are usually by local artists. Does that mean they’re not worth protecting? Doubt it. All three paintings were of a convenient size for slipping into an overcoat. Restaurants are no different than museums or galleries or anywhere else that art is hung – except there are no guards, no cameras, no motion detectors and a highly distracted staff whose job it is to make you comfortable and serve you food. Be aware of where your works hang and secure them somehow. Art Guard is one solution.

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