the theft at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

On the night of March 18, 1990, a pair of thieves disguised as Boston police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and roamed the museum’s galleries, stealing thirteen works of art. They gained entry into the museum by posing as Boston police officers and stating that they were responding to a call. The guard on duty broke protocol and allowed them entry through the museum’s security door. Once inside, the thieves asked that the guard come around from behind the desk, claiming that they recognized him and that there was a warrant out for his arrest. The guard walked away from the desk and away from the only alarm button. The guard was told to summon the other guard on duty to the security desk, which he did. The thieves then handcuffed both guards and took them into the basement where they were secured to pipes and their hands, feet, and heads duct taped. The two guards were placed 40 yards away from each other in the basement. The next morning, the security guard arriving to relieve the two night guards discovered that the museum had been robbed

 

Rembrandt, Self portrait  1634

 

Manet, Chez Tortoni, 1878–1880

 

Govaert Flinck, Landscape with an Obelisk, 1638

 

drawings by Edgar Degas