The World's Most Expensive Stolen Paintings

"What is it about art theft we can't resist?" is just one question posed by host and art critic Alastair Sooke in this BBC documentary about some of the most notable high-stakes art robberies on record. Sooke strives to learn more about those who commit art theft, their motivations, and how it is that so few pieces are ever returned to their rightful owners. Though several cases are discussed, the most focus is placed on a robbery from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum over twenty-five years ago. Known as the biggest art crime in history, the theft was carried out by two men posing as police officers. They managed to steal thirteen pieces total, from invaluable masterworks to a dubious piece of ornamentation. To this day no one has ever been caught, nor have any of the stolen works been found. The crime is largely suspected to have been the act of a slick connoisseur a la The Thomas Crown Affair. When Sooke Interviews a top art crime investigator, however, the notion that eccentric millionaire collectors are behind these crimes is swiftly debunked. Contrary to the romanticized image of the crafty burglar, it is revealed to primarily be career criminals that run the underground business of art theft. As the pieces themselves often exceed any monetary value (therefore negating any potential ransom or re-sale value profit) they are used as currency within the world of organized crime to buy drugs and arms. Sooke also interviews Miles Connor, a known art thief who claims to know the men who robbed the Gardner Museum. Bragging that he helped plan the heist and blaming its success largely on the stupidity of the museum guard on duty that fateful evening, his description of the event as it really happened also runs counterintuitive to the preconceived notions of art robbery. In addition to Sooke's narration and standard interviews, the film utilizes a musical score and stylized re-enactments that play on the mischievous spirit of caper movies while simultaneously making the argument that the world of art theft is a far cry from the Hollywood myth.

Comments

1. Why wouldn't the museum just hand an outstanding copy of the work for the public, and the originals at a central national government gold vults?? Who can tell the difference from 10 feet away (the spectators) anyhow?? Gov. in Iraq has done that, and the ISIS destroyed copies in the Mosul museums, not the originals (except the very heavy few)
2. Soooo, ISIS destroys what they cannot yank out and sell (the rest, they do to the happy Asian collectors). These folks they dont destroy them--thank God--because they know the value of them. Eventually they will come back to us---a large majority of them, but not all
3. whose watching this while starring at a stolen work hanging on their walls ;)
4. -
5. Come on, such hipocrite people. Everyone loves a stolen paintings, it gives more value to them. Perhaps it even helps the art industry.
6. From what I understand that many art thefts are a result of simple insurance fraud by the institutions or private owners of the art. I'm surprised this was not discussed nor mentioned in this presentation. The sad thing is that the painting that is stolen is typically thrown into the oven and destroyed to be certain it never will turn up ever.
7. even the rich are stealing it from the public...
8. same
9. good program but I don't enjoyed cutting a canvas art to start your documentary
10. "and there theft is an assault on all us" he says hahaha what a load of shit
11. "Thou shall not steal" Please, read The Bible, the end of times is near............
12. I would have taken the eagle but those art peices aint worth a penny to me.
13. I wouldn't be surprised some of these paintings turning up a few hundreds years in the future in the hands of a some private collectors, passed down over the centuries at private auctions.
14. Those Big Black Cock documentaries are always interesting, thanx.
15. wow
16. That was a really interesting documentary, thank you!
17. Alastair Sooke is a total plebeian
18. In a planet where 1/2 of the children go to bed hungry, 300 millions for a painting is obscene....was I the doer...I would publicly BURN 'EM ALL!!
19. Why weren't there MORE guards??! :(
20. White people suck