HAMMOND | Four monumental paintings collectively valued at $51,000 are missing from a temporary gallery in the former Mercantile National Bank building at 5243 Hohman Ave., police said.

The sheer magnitude of the crime -- the largest piece stolen measures 8 feet by 12 feet -- has left detectives scratching their heads, and the artists hanging theirs.

"You hope that some of your better work can be around so people can see it," said well-known local artist Tom Torluemke, whose enamels "Hide & Seek" and "Between Two People" were among the pieces stolen.

The paintings were part of a fall exhibit which reunited some two dozen artists to celebrate the original downtown location of Uncle Freddy's Gallery, which Torluemke founded with Linda Dorman in 2002.

After the show ended, some of the larger pieces were left at the site with permission from the building's owner, the Hammond Development Corp., Dorman said, until weather conditions improved.

And then the paintings, including two by East Chicago artist Thomas Frank, were discovered missing on Wednesday.

"We just want them back," said Torluemke, best known for his 12 foot by 25 foot tile installation, "Jesus Speaks to the Children," at Andrean High School, terrazzo flooring in Indianapolis International Airport and murals at the Indianapolis-Marion County Central Library.

Torluemke and Dorman said they promise not to press charges if the works are returned or can be recovered undamaged. They ask that anyone with information about the artworks call their gallery at (219) 923-1909.

Police had no suspects as of Thursday afternoon. Detective John Murks can be reached at (219) 852-2906.

Images of some of the missing paintings can be seen at www.tomtorluemke.com.