How a 30-year-old pulled off a Hollywood movie like heist in Munich museum
heist reminiscent of Hollywood movies, a 30-year-old employee at the Deutsches Museum in Munich managed to steal valuable paintings and fund a luxurious lifestyle. The audacious caper unfolded when the employee, serving as a collection manager from May 2016 to April 2018, replaced a treasured artwork, «Das Märchen vom Froschkönig» (The Tale of the Frog Prince) by Franz von Stuck, with a convincing fake.
He then falsely claimed familial ties to the painting and auctioned it off, pocketing a substantial 50,000 euros (44 lakh INR) after fees.
Unsatisfied with his first theft, the employee pilfered three more artworks from the museum's storage. Two of these stolen pieces, «Die Weinprüfung» (The Wine Test) by Eduard von Grützner and «Zwei Mädchen beim Holzsammeln im Gebirge» (Two Girls Collecting Wood in the Mountains) by Franz von Defregger, were sold, earning him an additional 11,490 euros (9.6 Lakh INR).
These ill-gotten gains fueled his extravagant lifestyle, leading to his eventual downfall.
Following his confession and remorse, the thief faced a Munich court and received a 21-month suspended sentence. He was also ordered to repay the museum over 60,600 euros (53 Lakh INR).
The court revealed his lack of rationale, stating, «He said he acted without thinking. He can no longer explain his behavior today.» The lure of luxury blinded him to the consequences of his actions.
The Deutsches Museum is now actively seeking the recovery of the stolen artworks.
Efforts are underway to reverse the sales of the stolen pieces, with one painting already back in police possession. Despite the museum's security measures and the employee's clean record at the time of employment, the theft underscores the lengths some go to for a life
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