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I couldn't understand why people steal famous art because there can't be any buyers who would feel safe about displaying it in their homes. There's no market to

by PakG1 8y ago

I couldn't understand why people steal famous art because there can't be any buyers who would feel safe about displaying it in their homes. There's no market to fence it. I tried googling for an answer and found only the explanation that there's no good rhyme or reason, the thieves are just that stupid. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/here-s-why-art-thieves-steal-paintings-they-can-t-n657656 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/here-s-why-art-thieves-st...

roscorollo 8y ago
I've looked into this before, following the same question you had. The most logical answer I found was the criminal version of an insurance policy. Basically they would steal said artwork but instead of selling, the point is to keep it in hidden storage. Then if at some point further down the line the criminal gets arrested in relation to another crime, they use the location of the artwork as leverage during plea bargaining. This is one of the major theories in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heists in the 90's.
- tonyedgecombe 8y ago
  I think this was going on with the mafia because the Italian legal system was conducive to it.
ilovetux 8y ago
the article said he had $163,000 euros stuffed in a bucket. As legitimate funds (I hope) dont often end up stuffed in a bucket I would surmise that he had some way of selling it. He was also caught by listing a stolen item on ebay, maybe Ebay was the only place he sold this stuff, but maybe not. Edit: apparently it was multiple buckets not just one.
Fnoord 8y ago
I'd assume its two-fold: The deed itself; the kick of doing something which isn't allowed. Owning the stolen goods; owning something unique akin to a trophy. However a legit buyer of a piece of art can show it off (like people -mostly male, it seems- seem to have this urge to show off materialistic things such as their cars or smartphones). Someone who stole something, especially if its unique, cannot show it off because it increases the chance of them getting busted. So eventually, they need a normal income while they own these expensive trophies, or they need to launder the goods. Which doesn't work very well with such unique antiquities.

by PakG1 8y ago

roscorollo 8y ago

I've looked into this before, following the same question you had. The most logical answer I found was the criminal version of an insurance policy. Basically they would steal said artwork but instead of selling, the point is to keep it in hidden storage. Then if at some point further down the line the criminal gets arrested in relation to another crime, they use the location of the artwork as leverage during plea bargaining. This is one of the major theories in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heists in the 90's.

tonyedgecombe 8y ago
I think this was going on with the mafia because the Italian legal system was conducive to it.

ilovetux 8y ago

the article said he had $163,000 euros stuffed in a bucket. As legitimate funds (I hope) dont often end up stuffed in a bucket I would surmise that he had some way of selling it. He was also caught by listing a stolen item on ebay, maybe Ebay was the only place he sold this stuff, but maybe not. Edit: apparently it was multiple buckets not just one.

Fnoord 8y ago

I'd assume its two-fold: The deed itself; the kick of doing something which isn't allowed. Owning the stolen goods; owning something unique akin to a trophy. However a legit buyer of a piece of art can show it off (like people -mostly male, it seems- seem to have this urge to show off materialistic things such as their cars or smartphones). Someone who stole something, especially if its unique, cannot show it off because it increases the chance of them getting busted. So eventually, they need a normal income while they own these expensive trophies, or they need to launder the goods. Which doesn't work very well with such unique antiquities.