Stealing Rembrandts at Weaver Library

About 50 art lovers or readers of true crime turned out Monday evening to listen to art security expert Anthony Amore discuss the book he co-authored with former newspaper editor Tom Mashberg called "Stealing Rembrandts."

Amore is a native Rhode Islander and 1989 graduate of the University of Rhode Island. After working for Homeland Security for 15 years, he said he wanted a “new opportunity,” so he took the position of Head of Security at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, MA.

Amore, who described the Gardner Museum as “the best in the world in my estimation,” told the audience that 13 priceless works of art were stolen from the museum in 1990, “the largest property theft in world history,” according to his Web site. The thieves were two people disguised as Boston police officers who told the security guard they were responding to a disturbance. The guard let them in and the two fake cops stole 13 pieces of art.

Three of those stolen Rembrandts include “Storm on the Sea of Galilee” (worth $200 million), “Lady and Gentleman in Black," and an etching called "Self Portrait."

Amore said his book’s theme is to entertain people and educate those who steal. He claims art thieves are usually low-level thieves who are not very bright.

“Art theft is nothing like what you see in the movies,” Amore said.

Amore said the art theft from the Gardner Museum is a 21-year-old crime and the statute of limitations is up. 

“We have a $5 million reward and we offer immunity,” Amore said.

To read more about other notorious art heists, visit the Stealing Rembrandts Web site.