printed record abbot strugg they continued on with their crime, and they took their time. one thief stayed behind in the dutch room and carefully removed some of the paintings from their matting and frames. although two of the rembrandt s were simply cut out of their frames. the other thief headed out of the room, back down the hallway. goes to the early italian room, the raphael room, all the while, passing incredibly priceless art. famous art. raphaels, important chinese pieces, frangelica and walked back to the short gallery where the thief takes a napoleonic finial from a flag that napoleon s first regimen carried. he s going back and forth about a half a dozen times, again,
the outside world. but did the thieves know that as well? because they didn t pack up and leave at that point. they continued on with their crime, and they took their time. one thief stayed behind in the dutch room and carefully removed some of the paintings from their matting and frames. although two of the rembrandt s were simply cut out of their frames. the other thief headed out of the room, back down the hallway. goes to the early italian room, the raphael room, all the while, passing incredibly priceless art. famous art. raphaels, important chinese pieces, frangelica and walked back to the short gallery where the thief takes a napoleonic finial from a flag that napoleon s first regimen carried.
they are also looking at a crime scene. in fact, a crime scene from the biggest art heist in history still unsolved. and this is all that s left. it is one of the art world s greatest mysteries. who stole these priceless works of art. and how have they managed to elude investigators all over the world for more than two decades. 13 works of art stolen, paintings by rembrandt, manet, flynk, sketches by degah. a chinese bronze beaker and a finial that set on top of a napoleonic flag. all taken in the dark of night. all together, worth $500 million. $500 million. and not one has ever been found. i m randy kaye outside the isabella stewart gardener museum.
because they didn t pack up and leave at that point. they continued on with their crime, and they took their time. one thief stayed behind in the dutch room and carefully removed some of the paintings from their matting and frames. although two of the rembrandt s were simply cut out of their frames. the other thief headed out of the room, back down the hallway. goes to the early italian room, the raphael room, all the while, passing incredibly priceless art. famous art. raphaels, important chinese pieces, frangelica and walked back to the short gallery where the thief takes a napoleonic finial from a flag that napoleon s first regimen carried. he s going back and forth about a half a dozen times, again, passing things that any art expert would say my god, these
the vamere, those three pieces account for 90% of let s call it $500 million, $400 million, whatever the mix, of the value. reporter: another big question, why did the thieves bother taken a golden finial that sat on top of a flag? at first, it seems they atechted to steal the flag itself. but it proved to be too difficult to take down. they wanted very badly to get that flag. that s always seemed to me to be the clue that is the most interesting. and i know the f.b.i. has spent a lot of time trying to figure that out. visiting, talking to, associations who are involved with napoleonic memorabilia to see was there a bounty for one of these banners? reporter: why did the thieves want that flag so badly? is it possible they were given a specific list of artwork to steal? by a collector who especially loved those 13 works of art?