by: Mike Miller
1/20/2017

Metal thieves are becoming more brazen by the day. From stealing railroad ties and catalytic converters they now have moved on to public art displays. Artwork valued at millions of dollars is being stolen not for artistic value, but solely for the value of the metal.

An artwork by Barbara Hepworth, one of the most highly regarded sculptors of the 20th century, has been stolen from a park in London according to CNN.

The bronze sculpture called "Two Forms (Divided Circle)" stood in Dulwich Park for more than 40 years until it was stolen last week. The artwork was insured for almost $1 million but one art expert said it was likely to be sold for scrap for just a few hundred dollars.

Two years ago police said they believed that a Henry Moore bronze sculpture "Reclining Figure," valued at £3 million, taken from the late artist's estate north of London was probably sold for just £1,500.

While the US has been plagued by metal, Great Britain has been waylaid by the theft of railway lines, phone lines and even war memorials. This has led to delays on the rail network, while the theft of cables at a Welsh hospital last week led to the cancellation of 100 operations, including some for cancer treatment.

Unlike most stolen art work, this theft was unlikely to have been stolen by a collector.

Art lovers were distraught over the theft of the work by Hepworth, who died in a fire at her studio in St. Ives, Cornwall, in 1975. To some, Barbara Hepworth is one of the greatest artists of the 20th century and appreciation of her work has never been greater.

Given the huge problem it is no surprise that UK politicians are facing calls to increase controls on scrap metal dealers to counter thefts during the economic downturn.

Perhaps the U.K. should implement a stop theft class, paid for out of the government coffers, to help combat this epidemic problem. Of course tighter controls on scrap metal dealers is mandatory.