Thousands of dollars worth of equipment was stolen from the Red Bull House of Art in Detroit’s Eastern Market, apparently by a man who had visited the gallery and chatted with artists in the days before the heist, Katrease Stafford reports in the Free Press.

Project Manager Karolina Biernacka tells Stafford the theft, which took place during Mother’s Day weekend, was a “major blow” to the gallery, one of Detroit's new cultural hot spots.

Organizers are now seeking the public’s help in identifying the burglar.

“We have everything on video surveillance, Biernacka said. "We know what the person looks like that did this. We’ve seen him in Eastern Market.”

The House of Art, at 1551 Winder, launched in 2012 and serves as a gallery and work space for artists.