Authorities say a brazen thief stole a Salvador Dali etching valued at $20,000 from a San Francisco gallery, then walked off down the street with the work in his hand.
KGO-TV says the etching entitled “Burning Giraffe” vanished Sunday afternoon from an easel at Dennis Rae Fine Art off Union Square.
Gallery Director Angela Kellett says the 1960s etching was normally secured with a lock and cable but they’re missing. It’s unclear whether the thief cut them off earlier or during the bare 30 seconds he was in the store before stealing the piece.
Surveillance cameras caught the man strolling down Geary Street with the etching.
Kellett says the limited-edition piece is very well known and unlikely to be sold online.
Anyone with information on the theft can contact police.