A very interesting story about a man named Patrick Vialaneix who became so obsessed with a work by Rembrandt while growing up that at the young age of 28 he stole it. The heist took place on the night of July 13, 1999 at a museum in Draguignan, France.
Vialaneix kept the work in great condition while hiding it from his friends and family. Fifteen years later, depression crept in and Vialaneix knew he had to remove the work from his house. With help from a friend he handed over the work, valued at 40M euros to two men identified as insurance agents and received a check for 40,000 euros in return.
Soon after, the two men were arrested for putting the Rembrandt on the black market. Hearing of the news and realizing the insurance agents were frauds, Vialaneix knew he had to turn himself in to authorities. Vialaneix was ready for his prison sentence but since the statute of limitations were well beyond its limits, Vialaneix remains a free man.
French Rembrandt Thief Lives Real-Life Version of ‘Goldfinch’ Story