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.
In 2005, a 12-foot-tall, 3,000-pound, copper bell and its frame was stolen from a Buddhist monastery in Tacoma, Washington. The bell was stolen while the monks were meditating. Police believed the robbers used machinery to commit the crime due to the enormous weight and size of the bell.
The bell was returned to the temple a few years later by a man who had come across the bell after buying a storage unit at an auction. After purchasing the unit, the man was contacted by David L. Hunter, who claimed that he was the rightful owner of the unit and all of its contents. Hunter offered the man $500 for the items in the unit, but the man declined the offer, returned the bell, and informed local Fish and Wildlife Officers about the conversation. Authorities arrested Hunter in 2008, almost 3 years after the bell was stolen.
