The Art Of The Steal: Inside The National Museum Heist

The FOX True Crime Podcast w/ Emily Compagno

Fox News

True Crime

4.8 • 708 Ratings

🗓️ 9 April 2024

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On December 22, 2000, three individuals entered the Swedish National Museum at gunpoint and stole three paintings, two by Renoir, and one my Rembrandt. The thieves delayed the arrival of law enforcement by detonating car bombs and made their escape via speedboat. The total value of the heist was $42 million. Retired FBI Special Agent Robert Wittman provides a glimpse into the world of art and property crime. He shares the story of his undercover mission to recover the stolen art. During his time in the FBI, Robert played a key role in the creation of the Bureau's Art Crime Team. He is now the President of Robert Wittman Inc., a consulting firm dedicated to helping galleries, museums, and properly protect their cultural assets. He details thrilling stories that defined his illustrious career in his memoir, Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures. Follow Emily on Instagram: @realemilycompagno If you have a story or topic we should feature on the FOX True Crime Podcast, send us an email at: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:31.6	It was a dark and cold evening on December 22nd, 2000. Business as usual for the National Museum in Stockholm, Sweden,
0:40.0	but just five minutes before closure came a shocking turn of events. At 4.55 p.m., a man armed with
0:47.4	a submachine gun entered the building, demanding all the museum goers lay down on the ground.
0:53.4	Two other men amongst the other museum goers
0:56.0	suddenly pulled out handguns, making the same threats. Within a matter of minutes, the thieves stole
1:02.3	three paintings, two Renoirs, and a self-portrait by Rembrandt. The trio of criminals left the museum,
1:10.2	carrying $42 million worth of stolen art.
1:14.5	The minutes felt like hours for the terrified people in the museum as they waited for police,
1:20.0	but it would take authorities 40 minutes to arrive. The thieves had detonated two car bombs in the city, diverting attention away from the museum.
1:31.4	With the roads blocked, the three criminals boarded a speedboat and made their escape.
1:41.4	It would have been the perfect heist, if not for the work of FBI Special Agent Robert Whitman.
1:50.0	I'm Emily Campano, and this is the Fox True Crime podcast.
2:03.6	Thank you. The The For an art heist of this magnitude, Swedish authorities knew who they had to turn to.
2:28.3	FBI Special Agent Robert Whitman played a pivotal role in the way the Bureau handles art crimes.
2:37.0	Throughout his 20-year career with the FBI, Special Agent Whitman assisted with the recovery of over $300 million worth of stolen art and cultural properties.
2:47.0	His investigations have secured the successful convictions of numerous criminals.
2:54.9	In 2005, he founded the FBI's very own art crime team
	...

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