Matthew Cox | Inside True Crime Podcast Insider Exposes Secrets Behind the World’s Largest Heist | Gardner Museum Heist
Jan 13, 2026
Anthony Amore, an art theft investigator and author of The Rembrandt Heist, dives into the notorious Gardner Museum heist, detailing how thieves tricked guards and absconded with priceless masterpieces. He discusses the mystery surrounding the stolen Vermeer and explores the unusual motives of art criminal Myles Connor, who prioritized collecting over profit. Amore also critiques media misrepresentations of the case and shares insights on the economics of high-profile art theft, revealing why many heists remain unsolved.
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How The Gardner Heist Unfolded
- On March 17–18, 1990 two fake police officers tricked guards and spent 81 minutes stealing 13 works including a Vermeer and two Rembrandts.
- The thieves cut canvases from frames rather than rolling them and left framed placeholders at the museum.
Thieves Steal Fame, Not Marketability
- Thieves targeted recognizable names (Rembrandt, Vermeer) rather than marketable objects someone could openly buy.
- The Vermeer
Knowing Thieves ≠ Knowing Where Paintings Are
- Knowing the perpetrators often doesn't mean you can find the objects because stolen art can be hidden indefinitely.
- Amore stresses there's an ocean between identifying thieves and locating the paintings.
