A sculpture by celebrated Canterbury artist Bing Dawe, valued at $4500, was stolen from Gallery 33, after the offenders broke in through the roof of the gallery.
However, the art thieves were partially thwarted in their attempt to steal the piece, called Eel and Trap, because they could only take part of the sculpture.
Constable Ian Henderson, of Wanaka, said the thieves took the eel part of the sculpture, but were unable to secure a large wire, mesh, and metal trap, which completed the work.
Police were seeking information from the public in a bid to recover the stolen artwork, Const Henderson said Dawe's works often reveal a fascination with eels, the University of Canterbury website says.
"He has represented them in many of works as creatures of wonder, mystery, and sometimes even creepiness. In ApportionEels with Trap the use of eels was inspired by a photograph of a Maori man seen in front of piles of eels being divided up between families. Here, the eels were used by Dawe to allude to the return of lands and fishing rights to Maori."
