What Was The Worlds Most Successful and Unsolved Art Heist

High stakes robbery's and heists have been the plot for countless exciting and popular movies for many years. And for most people, like myself, we would never consider planning and carrying out such a feat.

But, for few that dare, the rewards can be life changing!

The black market art industry is fuelled by the theft of thousands of expensive paintings and works of art, it is estimated by the FBI that the art theft industry is worth between $6 - 8 billion every year and is the fourth largest illegal crime industry world wide.

What was the largest unsolved art heist in history?

In March, 1990 the worlds largest ever art heist took place in Boston at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The whole robbery was undertaken by only two people who managed to steal 13 incredibly valuable and famous pieces of art which experts estimate to be worth a staggering $600m today!

Some of the art pieces stolen included Rembrandt’s Storm on the Sea of Galilee (1633), Edouard Manet’s Chez Tortoni (1878–1880), and A Lady and Gentleman in Black (1633).

A Lady and Gentleman in Black (1933)

Rembrandt’s Storm on the Sea of Galilee (1633)

Edouard Manet’s Chez Tortoni (1878–1880)

How did the heist unfold?

Early in the morning on March, 18 the two thief's disguised as Boston police officers were let into the museum by the guards after they told them that they were responding to a call. A guard broke protocol and let them into the museum and through the security doors.

They lured the guard away from his desk and the panic button which was the only way of connecting to the outside world and alerting the real police. Once they had done that, they made him call the other on duty guard who the thief's then handcuffed. They then moved them both to the museum basement where they were left until they were found in the morning.

During the next 81 minutes the robbers raided the museum, loaded all of the artwork into the back of a van outside and then made their escape and disappeared.

The crime caused outrage amongst the global art community and a intercontinental investigation was launched to try and recover the artwork. But, after 27 years the thief's themselves and the art is still missing.

What do we know today?

The whole robbery is still shrouded in mystery and although initially the Gardner Museum was offering a $1 million reward for any information leading to the safe return of the artwork, and the FBI and US attorney offering complete confidentiality there were no leads. In 1997 they increased this reward to 5 million and have recently increased the reward again to 10 million in 2017 but, still nothing.

It seems these unidentified art thief's might just have achieved the perfect heist, even if it was down to a bit of luck due to the guards breaking protocol.

We may never know who stole the art, or who or where the art is being held. But, it makes for a great story that will go down forever in history as being the most successful ever art heist of current day.

I hope you guys enjoyed,

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Will