With the odd Pebble Beach art theft still unresolved, though mired in accusations and recriminations between the collectors and the authorities, another high profile art theft has turned contentious between victim and insurance company. Richard Weisman reported his set of Warhol portraits of athletes stolen a few weeks ago in Los Angeles. Now he’s withdrawn his insurance claim for the set, according to the Seattle Times.

But, he says, he simply couldn’t stand the thought of insurance investigators poring through his personal records and interrogating his family and friends before he stood any chance of collecting.

“They turn you into a suspect. I just finally told them, ‘I’m not going to go through it for three to five years. Forget it,’ ” Weisman said. “That’s the only reason, and it’s a good enough reason.”

[…] Tracking each development is LAPD Detective Don Hrycyk, who for the past 15 years has taken on the unusual task of investigating high-profile art thefts.

“It’s a lot of money he gave up,” Hrycyk said. “It’s one of those puzzling aspects you have to take into account when you do your investigation.”

Hrycyk declined to say whether there are any suspects in the theft. Few clues were left at the scene, he said.

Seattle Owner Cancels Claim for Stolen Art (Seattle Times)