I really like stories of Art theft. The only thing that is more interesting is fakes. Even though I've been faked (in very small way) the subject holds endless fascination.
Remember this?
Sure you do, you heathen. It was a mainstay of the Met in NYC. FAKE!!!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/e ... museum-art
Then there is this guy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Landis
They even made a movie
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3654964/?ref_=kw_li_tt
What he did was fake "Masterpieces" and donate them. Never took a cent. He wuld take pictures of various works and then paint over them, making them look like originals. He'd dress up like a priest (sometimes) and go to a museum with a work by a famous artist and say "my mother/sister just died and this was a favorite thing of hers and she wanted you to have it" etc etc.
The flick is worth a peek.
It calls to mind an observation that Harold Peterson made. Something to the effect that some people will make fakes for the lulz. That they might spend more than the damn thing is worth. I once came across a fake Luger in CT that, even if the price was commensurate with what it appeared to be was till less than it would have cost to fabricate.
Petersons book on fakes is worthwhile
Also Incognito ... about art forgery. Rod Stieger's last picture as I recall. It shows how the professionals do it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incognito_(1997_film)
I could go on, I won't risk killing the thread.
"If I turn in a sicko, will I get a reward?"