Mona Lisa (p.), by Leonardo Da Vinci
The recent Louvre jewelry theft joins a long list of high-impact crimes that have left investigators perplexed by their complexity.
From priceless works of art to entire buildings, history is filled with audacious heists that defy the imagination.
On October 19, four thieves broke into the Louvre through a window on the second floor, fleeing within minutes on two motorbikes. What they took included eight pieces from the 19th century from French royal collections, including sets of sapphires and emeralds that belonged to queens. They also took Empress Eugénia’s pearl and diamond tiara, although the crown fell and was damaged during the escape. Experts evaluate stolen jewelry in 88 million eurosconsidering them “priceless” pieces of French heritage.
Mona Lisa (1911)
Perhaps the most famous art theft of all time, Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece was stolen by Italian handyman Vincenzo Perugia, who hid inside the Louvre at night. He smuggled the painting out under his coat, keeping it for two years before being captured in Italy. Today, the Mona Lisa is valued at around 2 billion dollars.
Stradivarius Davidoff-Morini (1995)
It is 3 million dollar violinmade in 1727 by Antonio Stradivari, was stolen from the Manhattan apartment of violinist Erica Morini shortly before her death. He remains missing and is on the FBI’s top 10 art crimes list.
Empire State Building (2008)
Hostelworld.com
Empire State Building, New York (USA)
In an elaborate undercover operation, The New York Daily News “stole” the 1.89 billion dollar skyscrapersubmitting false documents to the New York City land registry. The act exposed serious flaws in property transfer laws, which were subsequently strengthened.
Dorothy’s Shoes (2005)
Stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Minnesota, the iconic shoes from The Wizard of Oz resurfaced in 2018, following an anonymous million-dollar reward offer. They were sold in 2024 by 32.5 million dollarsmaking it the most valuable movie memorabilia item ever sold.
Dinosaur Bones (2012)
American fossil dealer Eric Prokopi smuggled more than half a dozen skeletons of dinosaurs, valued at one million dollars, from Mongolia. He was arrested and sentenced to three months in prison, and the fossils were returned.
A 3,000-pound Bell (2005)
The thieves used a forklift to steal a huge copper sin from a Buddhist monastery in Tacoma, Washington. It was found three years later at a warehouse auction.
The Scream (1994, 2004)
“O Scream” (1893), by Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch’s famous painting was stolen twice from Norwegian museums: once during the Lillehammer Olympic Games and again at gunpoint in 2004. On both occasions, police managed to recover the artwork.
Seven Fabergé Eggs (1917 onwards)
After the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, many of the Romanov family’s jewel-studded Fabergé eggs disappeared. One of them reappeared in a US flea market in 2014, purchased for $14,000 and later valued at 33 million dollars. The rest remain missing.
To Saliera (2003)
A 16th century gold salt cellar by Benvenuto Cellini, valued at 57 million dollarswas stolen from the Vienna Art History Museum. The thief eventually confessed and returned it intact.
The Concert (1990)
The work The Concerto, by Johannes Vermeer, valued at 200 million dollars, was stolen along with 12 other works from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. None were recoveredand the empty frames still hang in the museum.
The Amber Room (1941)
Known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, the Amber Room, made with six tons of amber and gold leaf, was looted by Nazi soldiers of a Prussian palace. Despite numerous searches, it was never found, although a replica can be found today in the Catherine Palace, in Saint Petersburg.
