Minneapolis police have charged a self-proclaimed "amateur artist" with felony burglary, after he allegedly stole $80,000 worth of artwork from the studio of local painter Leon Hushcha. Surveillance footage captured two suspects, one in a UPS vest, stealing paintings and prints early June 2.

Among the recovered works were sketches signed by Bassat, suggesting his involvement in both theft and attempted forgery. Police found these alongside Hushcha’s work in a rented storage unit in St Paul. The recovered pieces will be exhibited at Hushcha's studio starting September 17, with their frames damaged from what appears to have been a rough handling.

While the artist remains bewildered and seeks apologies over the ordeal, his studio assistant, Carley Novak, described it as “the cherry on top” of the theft. The case serves as a cautionary tale for artists about security, but also highlights the difficulty in distinguishing between genuine art and imitations.

Hushcha has spent 60 years creating abstract and figurative works in Minneapolis. Although he values his work, he expresses forgiveness towards the would-be thieves if they had returned it intact. His experience underscores the importance of careful storage and security measures for artists.