It has been more than a quarter century since the most expensive art heist in history occurred. Just after midnight on March 18, 1990, thirteen works from the permanent collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston were stolen; their whereabouts have remained unknown ever since. At the time, the works were valued at $500 million with a large portion of the total held by Vermeer’s “The Concert” which was Gardner’s first major acquisition and one of only 34 known works by the artist (valued at $200 million). With ongoing investigations still in effect the FBI was able to obtain another search warrant, on May 2nd, for “in and around” Robert “Bobby the Cook” Gentile’s home — this was the third time they gained access to the property. It is believed that Gentile knows the location of the works; however, since the heist he has denied his involvement. All leads have led the FBI to Northeast and New England criminal gangs, in particular Bobby Donati, Vincent Ferrara and Gentile – all Boston Mob. (Full article)
