Is it true that a group of journalists stole the Empire State Building for only one day? How did police catch the thief who stole one of Norway’s most famous paintings? Has anyone found a Stradivarius? Stradivarius was one of the most famous concert violinists of the 20th century.
Everyone knows that famous art and historical artifacts are some of the most valuable works, but what’s the real reason for stealing the most expensive items on earth? Below, you’ll learn about some of the world’s most expensive items and the dangerous operations involved in stealing them.
Known by some as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the Word’, The Amber Room was a creation by Andreas Schluter starting in 1701 and was completed in 1770 after many other architects and craftsmen had also worked on the room. The room was originally housed in the palace of King Frederick I and Queen Sophie Charlotte, but was moved to two other locations, Berlin City Palace in 1716 and the Catherine Palace in 1755. Upon its completion, the room spanned over 590 square feet and contained more than 6 tons of amber panels. Today, the room is estimated to be worth approximately $140 to $280 million.
The Amber Room remained in Russia until the Nazis raided St. Petersburg in 1941, when they dismantled the room and shipped the pieces to Königsberg castle in Germany on Hitler’s orders. After the room was erected, it stayed in the castle for two years until the war shifted in favor of the Allied forces and Hitler then ordered the room to be packed and shipped. The castle was heavily bombed by Russian Allied Forces in 1944 and a mystery remains as to whether the room was stowed in the castle and destroyed during the bombing or if it had already been removed.
