N.Y. Police Foil $18.5-Million Art Theft, Arrest 3

Three men who police believe were involved in an international art-theft ring were arrested Sunday as they tried to steal $18.5 million worth of antique art treasures from a packing company, police said.

The men, who include a Manhattan antiques dealer, were captured by undercover investigators as they loaded two wooden crates of the art works into two getaway cars, Deputy Inspector Ronald Fenrich said at a news conference.

Among the 105 treasures that the police recovered were dozens of gold Persian jars, urns, coins, vases, sculptures and jewels, some of which date to the 6th and 7th centuries B C.

The most expensive item taken was believed to be a gold tureen decorated with bas-relief bulls, which Fenrich said would sell for about $3.5 million at wholesale.

He said the three men used sledge hammers and crowbars to break through cement walls at the Regency Worldwide Packing Co. in Queens, and emerged about 25 minutes later carrying the two crates.

Investigators, who had been watching the three suspects for four months, received a tip from an informant and were waiting when the men tried to leave.

Police identified the suspects as Thomas May, 52, and Daniel Kohl, 44, both of Queens, and Nedjatollah Sakhai, 48, of Old Westbury. All three were charged with burglary.

Fenrich said that Sakhai, owner of Eli’s Antiques in Manhattan, was also charged with possession of a dangerous weapon after a loaded revolver was found in his store.

The deputy inspector said the art works were shipped from a London dealer via Swissair late last week. They were to be held at the packing company and transferred to a warehouse for distribution sometime this week.