reporter: the isabella stewart gardner museum is considered one of the finest institutions in boston. so when two men posing as boston police officers made off with 13 works of art, it became priority number one for investigators working the case. their goal has always been to return the stolen artwork to where it belongs. but even if they do one day, what may always haunt them is how the thieves knew the museum was so vulnerable. for 23 years, these empty frames have hung on the walls of the isabella stewart gardner museum. but they are more than just evidence of a remarkable crime. they are a sign of hope, place holders for when the paintings return. all of these years, one thing investigators haven t been able to figure out, besides where the artwork may be, is how did the mastermind behind this heist know security was so thin at the museum? just two night watchmen, one panic button, motion detectors that could be dodged and one security camera outside. did the thieves have help
unharmed. but 13 of the greatest works of art, worth about half a billion dollars, were missing. rick says he just remembers waiting and waiting and waiting. police found him the next morning. the police came around the corner with flashlights and the guy seemed surprised and screamed out, whoa, we ve got another one. and i was just like, cut me off this box, because my hands had fallen asleep a long time ago. rick was relieved to be found and to be alive. but he knew almost immediately that he was a suspect. i knew i was. i mean, i opened up the door, you know. i mean, once i sat down with the fbi, i think the first thing i said was, what do you want to know? because i knew. i mean, well, i m the guy who opened up the door, they re obviously going to be looking at
the night watchman, against protocol, allowed them into the museum. anthony amore is the security director for the isabella stewart gardner museum. he s also an active investigator on this case. he says back in 1990, no one was allowed into the museum after hours. not even police officers. but rick, the security guard, said he d routinely buzz in museum employees afterhours. even the museum director. i was never verbally told that to the best of my knowledge. i m sure there was a policy written somewhere. but it wasn t the culture of the place, for the most part. people came in and out of there fairly regularly. at least once a month, we d let someone in. so it was not unusual for rick to hear that buzzer go off. on this night, rick says he had no doubt. it really was the boston police at the entrance. they were standing there. their hats, coats and badges,
information on its hard drive intact. meanwhile, all of this time, rick abath is waiting in the pitch dark, scared to pieces in the museum basement. as he waited for something to happen next, he suddenly realized someone was staring at him. either through sweating or struggling or both, at some point, the duct tape had slipped down. so i could see a little bit over the duct tape, kind of. and at one point, somebody did come and check on me. somebody was standing on the end looking down at me. they didn t say anything and i it spiked me up again, i was freaking out again. but trying not to, like, oh, my god, i have to pretend i can t see this person. that would definitely not be good if they realized i could see them. rick says he had lost track of time and wasn t sure exactly when the thief came to check on him. that was the last he d see of them. their job was done. but remember the video camera perched outside the door where
on this night, rick says he had no doubt. it really was the boston police at the entrance. they were standing there. their hats, coats and badges, and looked like policemen and buzzed them into the museum. and one of them came right over to my desk. and one of them kind of stood in the alcove right there, looking around. it didn t seem particularly odd to me, and he came up to me and the one guy, they asked me if i was alone. i said that no, my partner was off doing a round. i said get him down here. i called him on the radio. within seconds, rick s partner joined him at the security desk. the cop that was dealing with me turned to me and said don t i know you? don t i recognize you? i think there s a warrant out for your arrest. can you step out from behind the desk? and i m sitting there and i