The largest art theft in history is a crime that continues to baffle investigators and art lovers alike. On March 18, 1990, two men broke into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts and stole 13 works of art valued at $500 million.
The stolen pieces included masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Manet, and Degas. It is the single largest property crime in U.S. history.
The thieves entered the museum around 1:24am after cutting a hole in the window screens with a portable saw and disabling the alarm system. They then proceeded to grab 13 works of art from inside the museum and leave with them within 81 minutes. The security guards on duty at the time were unaware of what had happened until they noticed the empty frames hanging on the walls.
The FBI has investigated this case for nearly three decades without any success. Despite offering a $5 million reward for information leading to the recovery of these items, authorities have failed to make any headway in apprehending those responsible or recovering any of the stolen artwork. The case remains open and unsolved.
The Gardner Museum itself has been greatly affected by this crime as well. While some works have been replaced since then, others cannot be adequately replaced due to their uniqueness or value. As such, there is a lingering sense of loss among many museum visitors who visit expecting to see these masterpieces.
Conclusion:
What Is the Largest Art Theft in History? The answer is clear: it was the theft of 13 works of art from Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990 valued at $500 million dollars – still unsolved today. This crime has left an indelible mark on both law enforcement agencies and art lovers alike as it stands as one of history’s greatest unsolved mysteries.