Stolen Pictures Recovered in Berkeley

Berkeley police recovered $6,500 worth of stolen prints from a professional photograph collection from a South Berkeley house and arrested the property's owner Monday evening, police said.

Police arrested Berkeley resident Gabriel Bernales, 32, at his house on the 2600 block of Sacramento Street near Parker Street on suspicion of possessing stolen property, violating probation and possessing drug paraphernalia, said Berkeley police Officer Joe Okies.

Thirty-five black and white prints by Chris Honeysett and 30 to 35 color prints by Lisa Kristine, both San Francisco photographers, were recovered by police at the house. Okies said police traced Bernales to the house through an unrelated investigation.

There are more than 150 prints still missing, including 100 8-by-10-inch prints and five large mural prints, Honeysett said. He said his insurance company is planning to offer him a $250 reimbursement for the missing photographs, which he said are worth an estimated $30,000.

The collection had been intended for display at Honeysett and Kristine's gallery in Mendocino after a planned tour through several small galleries, Honeysett said. He said he will now attempt to sell the recovered prints to individual collectors.

Honeysett reported that his gray Ford truck was stolen from its parking spot in front of his San Rafael studio Nov. 4, with 300 prints and several pieces of display equipment inside, said San Rafael police Officer Margo Rohrbacher.

The truck was recovered in Hayward by police Nov. 15. The vehicle was empty except for a few pieces of display equipment, Honeysett said.

Okies said police are investigating Bernales' possible connection to Honeysett's stolen truck. He could not elaborate on the charges against Bernales for violating probation or possessing drug paraphernalia.

Honeysett, whose photographs are often depictions of landscapes and architecture, said he was especially disturbed by the theft because it contradicts the peaceful nature of his art.

"When I work, I interpret the world and try to convey a positive atmosphere with my photography," Honeysett said. "It's shocking that something so negative would happen."

Although he was pleased the photographs were recovered, Honeysett said he was nervous about the other missing prints.

"They aren't Picassos-they don't usually sell for more than $5,000," he said. "Basically, they are just going to end up in someone's house or in the trash, so I am encouraging anyone who sees my photographs in an unusual place, like a flea market, to contact the authorities."

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