From the largest art theft in the world valued at $300 million at the Gardner Museum in Boston, to a handyman stealing the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, art and antiquities theft is a major crime industry. It is rated third in the hierarchy behind narcotics and weapons trafficking. Italy alone suffers 20,000 art thefts a year, despite a 300 strong dedicated police art theft unit.
Picasso, Monet, Renoir, Michelangelo and even the Grand Master, Leonardo da Vinci have had their timeless, coveted pieces stolen from exhibitions, private collections, galleries, and world renowned museums. Most recently, a magnificent Rembrandt was stolen from a private exhibition at a luxury brand hotel in California. The thief simply waited for the curator to turn his back, snatched the artwork, and left undetected. Whether displayed at modestly protected exhibitions or fortress-like museums, no class of artwork or antiquity has been spared.
Huge Profit, Low Risk?
Recommended For You
Want to continue reading?
Become a Free PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader
Your access to unlimited PropertyCasualty360 content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- Breaking insurance news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
- Weekly Insurance Speak podcast featuring exclusive interviews with industry leaders
- Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
- Critical converage of the employee benefits and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, BenefitsPRO and ThinkAdvisor
Already have an account? Sign In Now
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
