VANCOUVER - RCMP have alerted Interpol about a weekend heist of valuable native artwork and Canada's art world is abuzz over what motivated the theft from a B.C. museum.
A dozen of the 15 pieces stolen overnight Friday from the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia were by legendary native artist Bill Reid who died in 1998.
Theories abound as to why someone would break into the cliff-top museum, bypass the facility's security and walk away with a collection of treasured pieces.
There has been speculation the pieces could be destined to be melted down for their gold, while another theory is thieves may have entered with a list drawn up by a collector.
The RCMP have sent descriptions of the art to Interpol but have said little else.
Along with the Reid pieces, three pieces of Mexican jewelry -- two necklaces and a bracelet -- were also taken.
The university and the museum are jointly offering a 50-thousand-dollar reward for the return of the pieces, which are worth about two million dollars.
