FBI: Isabella Gardner Art Heist Has Philly Connection

The FBI today launched a new website to track developments in the 1990 art heist at the  Isabella Steward Gardner Museum in Boston, adding new information to the public record of what is know about the heist. Thirteen works—including pieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer—were stolen

The FBI believes it has determined where the stolen art was transported in the years after the theft and that it knows the identity of the thieves, Richard DesLauriers, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston office, revealed for the first time in the 23-year investigation. “The FBI believes with a high degree of confidence that in the years after the theft, the art was transported to Connecticut and the Philadelphia region, and some of the art was taken to Philadelphia, where it was offered for sale by those responsible for the theft.” DesLauriers added, “With that same confidence, we have identified the thieves, who are members of a criminal organization with a base in the Mid-Atlantic states and New England.” After the attempted sale, which took place approximately a decade ago, the FBI’s knowledge of the art’s whereabouts is limited.

Although the FBI does not know where the art is currently located, the FBI is continuing its search, both in and beyond the Connecticut and Philadelphia areas. “With this announcement, we want to widen the ‘aperture of awareness’ of this crime to the reach the American public and others around the world,” said DesLauriers.

The museum is offering a $5 million reward for the recovery of the artworks.

And just because—our favorite art heist movie scene ever: