The Successful Rembrandt Art Thief

Stealing art from a museum is often an ill-advised endeavor, as even unscrupulous collectors shy away from purchasing such recognizable stolen items. Many museum heists are executed by career criminals adept at bypassing security but lacking in after-theft planning, leading to their swift capture. Only a few manage to profit, typically by stealing pieces with precious metals that are easily melted down and sold. Despite security vulnerabilities like public access to artifacts, authorities are quick to investigate and apprehend thieves, as evidenced by the rapid arrest following a recent Louvre theft.

Myles Connor stands out as one of the few who successfully reaped rewards from art theft. Growing up near Boston, Connor developed a love for art early on, visiting the Boston Museum of Fine Arts with his grandfather. Even as a teenager, Connor demonstrated charisma and audacity, pulling off a bank heist with the help of an insider fan. Throughout the 1960s, he divided his time between bank robberies, drug trafficking, and art collection, specializing in samurai artifacts. Although many pieces were bought legitimately, he couldn’t resist stealing art on occasion.

Compared to bank heists, museum thefts were less challenging for Connor. Utilizing his knowledge and demeanor, he often presented himself as a legitimate researcher to access museum storerooms. On one occasion, he exploited his access to the Boston Children’s Museum, climbing a drainpipe to the roof and entering through an unalarmed attic to steal his favorite Japanese artifacts.

Connor’s most notable heist involved a Rembrandt painting from MFA Boston. Awaiting trial in 1974 on unrelated charges, Connor proposed trading stolen art for a reduced sentence. When advised only a Rembrandt could help, he targeted “Portrait of a Girl Wearing a Gold-Trimmed Cloak,” exploiting museum vulnerabilities to execute a daytime theft. Although caught numerous times for other crimes, Connor successfully negotiated a four-year sentence reduction without prosecution for this heist.

Anthony M. Amore’s book, “The Rembrandt Heist,” highlights Connor’s story among other art heists, underscoring the rare success of such endeavors in escaping capture and severe punishment. Despite occasional triumphs, Connor’s criminal path ultimately led to long prison sentences and personal losses, reinforcing the inherent risks and ultimate futility of art theft.