Police are asking for help catching a man they believe stole two paintings on display at the Symetra Financial Center in downtown Bellevue.

Both paintings were part of an exhibit from the Eastside Association of Fine Arts.

A volunteer for the organization noticed the artwork was missing Nov. 10. A thief had apparently cut the zip ties that held the paintings in place on a wall.

A security guard at the Symetra complex observed a man in the exhibit area carrying a garbage bag and possibly a painting.

The man walked away quickly after spotting the guard, according to a police report. He is described as a caucasian, around 6-feet tall and 175 pounds with grey hair. He was wearing a grey coat, a black beanie hat, black jeans, and black shoes.

Police have no video surveillance from the exhibit area.

“It’s a dead end,” Bellevue Police spokeswoman Carla Iafrate said of the case.

Police are asking art buyers and sellers to be on the lookout for the two paintings. One, a piece from Karen Richter titled “Totem,” is worth $300. The other, Steve Hu’s “Idaho Landscape,” is valued at $500.