If you thought the Pebble Beach art theft valued at $27 million was a little fishy, there’s more coming: a ransom note.

“There’s a ransom note — we have it,” Richards said Wednesday. “It demands money and [includes] death threats for the family.” He said information about the ransom note was not meant for public knowledge and was leaked to the media by the owners.

“It compromises the integrity of our investigation,” Richards said.

Deputies have said investigators were called Friday evening to the home on Sunridge Road.

The theft probably occurred between 1 p.m. and 6:48 p.m. that day, they have said. Besides the artwork, the Sheriff’s Office said, a computer and $3,100 in cash were stolen. A bedroom window was found broken after the discovery of the heist.

Besides the Sheriff’s Office, two other agencies are running investigations on the stolen art. The law office of Vicki St. John, representing the owners, has said private investigators have been hired to look into the case. The insurance company that insured some of the stolen pieces is also running its own probe.

Pebble Beach Art Theft Ransom Note Found (The Californian)