A 105-year-old woman is missing a treasured oil painting and a photograph of herself as a teenager after they were stolen from her room in a Vancouver rest home, and police are asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect.
The framed oil painting, described by the police as "Manet-style," is a portrait of the French writer Emile Zola. The stolen photograph shows the victim at age 17.
Both pieces of art are said to be of great sentimental value for the victim. The painting alone is estimated to be worth $7,500.
Police believe the art may have been stolen on July 14 -- although the theft wasn't discovered for a few days -- and have identified a suspect seen in surveillance footage taken at the home.
Vancouver police say the heavyset woman entered the West Side rest home around 6 p.m. and headed directly to the victim's room. She was carrying a bouquet of flowers and a large flat box, but no longer had the flowers when she left the home.
Police say that the victim's family and staff at the home do not recognize the woman.
The suspect is white, between 30 and 35-years-old, with shoulder-length dirty blonde hair and estimated to be 5-6 tall and about 220 lbs. In the footage, she is wearing sunglasses, a black t-shirt, black Adidas pants with white stripes and running shoes.
Police are asking anyone with information about the theft to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
