DNA May Help Solve Art Theft

Fellow appraiser Christine Guernsey sent me an Art Daily post on the possibly discovery and use of DNA evidence on duct which may, or may not help in the investigation of stolen artwork from the 1990 theft at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The Art Daily piece was rather short, but it referenced the main article which was in the Boston Globe. The investigation is underway with no prime suspects, but there is DNA evidence found on duct tape at the scene used to tie up the guards. It is not know if the DNA will be helpful, if it belonged to the thieves and if so are samples in the DNA database.

The thieves removed 13 works from the Gardner Museum, including paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Degas. There is a book on the theft, click HERE to view on Amazon.

The Boston Globe reports

In the predawn hours of March 18, 1990, a guard granted entry to two thieves posing as police officers investigating a disturbance, against museum protocol.

The thieves handcuffed and duct-taped both guards, who were recent college graduates, and put them in the museum basement before removing 13 works in 81 minutes, far longer than most thieves spend in a museum, Amore said. It has been called the largest art heist in history, at an estimate of at least $250 million.

The Gardner will host another forum on Thursday.

Last night, Ashbrook, a former Globe editor, told Amore that he hoped he was right about his theory that the thieves were local and that he could recover the paintings.

“I’ll get them,’’ Amore said. “I’m right.’’

Amore also said that even if FBI agents were able to obtain DNA from the duct tape used to restrain the guards, the samples may not belong to the thieves and may not come up in a criminal database.

Instead, Amore said, tips from the public have led him to focus on criminal gangs operating in the Boston area at the time.

To read the full Boston Globe article, click HERE.