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.
On August 28, 2005, the ruby-red sequined slippers worn by Dorothy in “Wizard of Oz” were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The slippers, said to be worth between $2 to $3 million, were stolen from a case in the museum after the thief smashed the glass. Police were left with very few clues as there were no fingerprints or video camera footage left behind. After a private donor offered a $1 million reward, several people had come forward claiming to have information about the thief, but all of these tips led to a dead end.
Thirteen years later in 2018, someone had called the insurance company that now owns the slippers and stated that they had information to help the investigation. After a short time, it was evident that the person had been planning to make money off of the insurance company. The FBI recovered the slippers in Minneapolis and the person was not given any of the reward money.
