ESCONDIDO, Calif. — A stolen art piece in Escondido has one artist asking the public for help in identifying the suspects who took it. A rare pair of Nike Air Jordans were stolen out of a gallery in broad daylight, and it was all caught on surveillance video.
“One guy came in with his shoes, took his shoes off and put my Jordans on and walked out with some very one-of-a-kind Jordans, the bluest Jordans on the planet,” said artist Dope Rx, who did not want to be identified by his real name. “He needs to take them off and return them immediately.”
The collectible Nike Air Jordans were stolen from an artist’s studio at the ArtHatch gallery, a non-profit organization housing local San Diego County artists with studio space and monthly art exhibitions.
“They took the shoes out probably in a matter of ten minutes and there was three of them and it was all caught on video,” said Dope Rx.
Surveillance video from October 5 shows a group of three people walk into the gallery. When they walked out ten minutes later, one of the adult men with dark hair was wearing the blue Nikes after having left his own pair of shoes in their place on the art display.
“This is where we had the shoes before somebody came in and did a classic switch-a-roo,” said Victor Roman, manager and artist at ArtHatch, as he showed CBS 8 where the shoes had been on display. “I think he had a couple people with him and somebody was playing piano, distracting our receptionist and they just walked out all quick with it.”
Dope Rx is a master colorist who uses a trademarked process. He embedded his patented color blue in suede velvet on the Air Jordans.
“It’s like stealing a Boscia painting off a wall, and this is art theft, and I worked hard on that shoe, that shoe took me like a week to do,” said Dope Rx. “And it sucks they stole it.”
As soon as he realized the shoes were stolen, he filed a police report. CBS 8 spoke with a Lieutenant who said their investigation is currently getting underway.
“They were worth $5,000. Now they’re worth zero because he probably put a crack in them, probably done bent them up, scuffed them up,” said Dope Rx. “Those shoes were meant to be collectibles, handed down to the next family, put in a bank vault, but never to be worn.”
The ArtHatch is a unique gallery featuring hundreds of artists, some who rent studio space here. Roman, who also goes by the artist name, Viralboa, told CBS 8 they’re going to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
“It’s super unfortunate, we should like not let this happen,” said Roman. “I think we’re going to install a camera right here on this studio just so we have everything like super secure.”
If you recognize anyone in the surveillance video or photos, you’re asked to contact Escondido Police.
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