'Honest Living' painting brings arrests

It took a painting called "An Honest Living" to catch a pair of crooks, police said. The oil, which depicts a blues band, was one of 250 works that burglars stole from the Laguna Beach home of artist John Cosby in April.

The paintings were valued at $750,000.

About two weeks ago, a Texas collector of Cosby's work noticed "An Honest Living" being offered on eBay for the bargain price of $1,500.

Cosby was notified and contacted a police detective, who tracked the advertiser.

That led to the arrest of Michael Voss, 49, of Laguna Niguel, and Thomas Hendricks, his 49-year-old roommate, police said.

"It was like serendipity," Cosby said.

The artists said some of the other stolen paintings were found on the men's walls and the rest were in a storage unit.

Voss, who was arrested Wednesday, pleaded not guilty Friday to receiving stolen property.

Hendricks was arrested Thursday and faces charges of receiving stolen property exceeding $150,000, authorities said.

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Information from: The Orange County Register, http://www.ocregister.com