TULSA, Okla. — A Tulsa woman is asking for the return of a priceless family heirloom that she said was stolen from her.
Dawn Nichols is selling her house to move in with her fiancé. Her excitement over her future plans was dampened this Wednesday.
“I walked into the front room and that’s where I noticed all three paintings were missing," she said.
She said two TVs, a mirror and the three paintings were stolen from her home. One of those paintings is of George Washington and was painted by her great-grandmother. It was just given to her weeks ago by her father.
“It was one of the last pieces that we had of her work," Nichols said. "So, now, unfortunately, we don’t have any more of hers.”
One of the other paintings was done by Tulsa artist, Michael Palazzo.
Nichols hasn’t been living at her house while it’s been on the market. She was last there on Sunday prior to an open house. She believes it’s a possibility someone came to the open house to scope out her things.
“And then on top of that, because I wasn’t living in the house, people can see a realty sign out front," she said. "There was no vehicle there on a regular basis. I think that probably made it more of a target.”
Nichols has a security system, but no cameras. She said there’s no sign of anyone breaking in. She’s warning others selling their homes to be careful about what you leave in it.
“Find out when the showings are over, immediately reset the [security] system," she said. "Find out when the open house is over. Immediately reset it. Go by often. Park in the driveway for a while.”
Nichols did file a police report.
She is hoping to get a piece of her great-grandmother back.
“If someone wanted to return them, no questions asked," she said. "I have no problem with that. I have no questions. I just would love to have the paintings back.”
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