Museum posts reward for stolen art

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 27 (UPI) -- The University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver has posted a $50,000 reward for the return of 15 stolen pieces of art.

The pieces worth $2 million were taken between Friday night and Saturday morning, CTV News reported Tuesday.

Three of the pieces were Mexican jewelry, while the rest were works in gold by the nationally renowned Haida Indian artist Bill Reid. Some of his images appear on Canadian currency.

Anthony Shelton, director of the museum, told CTV he hopes the thieves haven't melted down Reid's pieces.

"Some of his pieces are symbolic of Canada itself. They're signature pieces," he said. "It's a great loss to the museum but it's an even greater loss to all Canadians."

Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokeswoman Annie Linteau told the Vancouver Sun the break-in was a forced entry but wouldn't say whether the alarm system was compromised.