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The theft in 1988 at ÅBY trotting track in Mölndal / “Silkestömmen” from the newspaper GT tuesday May 10th, 1988
In an unusually brazen theft at Åby trotting track on Friday lost three paintings worth 33 000 SEK. The specially invited guests had been opening up in the restaurant when the thief struck.The room was locked and no racing going on. Therefore, there must have been an inside job, says Bengt Dedert at Molndal police.

Hall was Locked  
It was last Friday that the art exhibition was opened in the Marble Hall at Åby racetrack. The whole day was artist Ingrid Ström worked on the exhibition. She hung up a total of 33 different works of art with horse motifs. At 18:30 in the evening was the opening of 350 invited guests, including Governor Åke Norling. Guests stayed in the Marble Hall at 20 o’clock when they went up in the restaurant. – All guests behaved exemplary. When they went up in the restaurant so we locked the hall and went from there, says Ingrid Ström.

Discovered
The next morning when we came to Aby we discovered that watercolor was missing. A bit later we discovered that two paintings had gone. A total of two stolen paintings and one watercolor. The oil paintings are one times one meter high and is valued at SEK 15 000 each. Watercolor measuring 50 by 40 inches and is worth 2 800thLokalen låst- A witness saw a man leave the hall with the paintings under his arm at 22 o’clock on Friday. Therefore, we are convinced that it was when the theft took place, says Bengt Dedert.

Be warned
The man who was seen walking away with the paintings are not among the invited guests. That is clear. But because the room was locked, and there were no races at the racetrack on Friday evening so there must be an inside job. The exhibition was still hanging on Aby on Saturday and Sunday, with empty spaces where the stolen paintings were hung. We had been warned that things could happen in the races where there were a lot of people. But on Saturday during the competitions there is no such happening. I feel really sad right now, says Ingrid Ström.