NORTH ATTLEBORO - Until last week, almost no one knew the school department owned a painting that could be worth $1 million or more.

Now, after nationwide publicity concerning an Iacovleff masterpiece that has been hanging in the Community School for more than 50 years, everyone knows.

Unfortunately, that includes resourceful art thieves who would love to get their hands on a painting that has already been appraised at between $600,000 and $800,000.

"Frankly, I'm surprised it hasn't been stolen already," said Charles Moore, president of CGM Private Detective Group, a specialist in investigating high-profile art thefts and recovering paintings, ranging from Rembrandts to Cezannes.

"I can guarantee that there are people out there right now who are trying to figure out how they can steal this thing," he said. "Afghans," an oil painting by Russian Alexandre Iacovleff, had been hanging in the school since the early 1950s, when the grandfather of Gregory Smith, owner of Standard Chain in North Attleboro, donated it to the schools for the enjoyment of students.

Recently the value of the painting has skyrocketed, along with a boom in Russian art.

The high-value appraisal has ignited a debate between those who would like to auction the painting on behalf of the town and those, including Smith, who is dismayed the painting has been removed from the Community School auditorium.

The painting has recently been taken down and sent to Sotheby's auction house of New York City, where it has been insured and stored, pending a possible sale.

But with the sudden publicity accorded the painting, some fear extensive security precautions would be necessary if the painting were to be displayed locally in a public place.

Moore said limiting access to the painting and providing video surveillance would be high priorities.

"And, I think you'd have to consider motion detectors," he said.

That's not to say that "Afghans" need be exiled permanently from public view, Moore said. Some of his prominent clients have paid to have modern reproductions made of their paintings and put the reproductions on display, instead.

The originals, meanwhile, remain safe in a vault.

Both Superintendent Rick Smith and lawyer Stephen Clapp, a spokesman for Gregory Smith, say they they've already heard that suggestion. Smith said it might be a good idea. Clapp said he's afraid copying might bolster an argument to sell the original.

Gregory Smith would prefer that the painting remain in town.

Just because a valuable painting inevitably attracts the notice of would-be thieves doesn't mean there's no place in North Attleboro where it could be safely exhibited.

The police station is one recent suggestion, Clapp said, but not with the objective of turning accused crooks into art appreciators.

"There's a board room there where community meetings are often held," Clapp said. "It's a place where the public could have access to it."

However, school committee Chairman David Manoogian has pointed out that the police station comes equipped with sprinklers, which could damage that painting if they went off.

RICK FOSTER can be reached at 508-236-0360 or at rfoster@thesunchronicle.com.