LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Police Department held a news conference Wednesday to alert the public about a storage room full of recovered stolen art. 

Back in June, LAPD was tipped by an auction house that was asked to sell some artwork, but found some of them were the same as those published on the LAPD’s stolen art website. 

Lieutenant Mel Vergara is the lead detective, and he found the stolen artwork was connected to a series of residential burglaries back in the early 90s, nearly 30 years ago. So returning them to the original owners will be much harder than it sounds.

“When I contacted the FBI, according to them, LAPD took the report,” said Lt. Mel Vergara. “So of course we’re still looking for that report so that we can determine this is the painting that was taken.”

Back when the report was taken, most of the artwork was described. Photos don’t really exist, so the LAPD Art Theft Detail is seeking the public’s help to identify the stolen artwork and connect them with the original owners. 

“It will be a challenge, you know, but with the technology we have today, we may get lucky,” said Vergara.

The owner of The Noble Englishman is one of those lucky individuals. When she found out the painting was found, she was happy. 

“When the victim who had been burglarized in the early 1990s received a call from the detective that her painting has been recovered, she was beyond ecstatic,” said Commanding Officer of the Commercial Crimes Division Lillian Carranza. “She immediately stated, ‘Oh,  I miss my Englishman.’”

Considering these artworks were stolen 30 years ago, many of the original owners may not be alive, but the LAPD is still hoping to find their next of kin so they’ve set up a website and are urging the public to take a look.

“It might not have a high dollar value, but to the victim, to the owner, it might be priceless,” said Carranza.

The English Nobleman is estimated at $60,000, but getting it back is priceless. 

If you are looking for stolen art, click here.