[MSN] Zurich art heist: The Heist of Monet's Poppies Near Vetheuil and Understanding the Thieves' Motivation

[MSN]

The Heist of Monet's "Poppies Near Vetheuil" and Understanding the Thieves'
Motivation
By Chet Harlow

Police in Switzerland are still searching for three masked man who stole
paintings valued at $163 million on Monday. The paintings include Monet's
"Poppies near Vetheuil" and Vincent Van Gogh's "Blossoming Chestnut
Branches."
With this brazen theft, I decided to pay a visit to Juan Sanchez in Sol de
la Molina, a villa outside Lima, Peru, to understand the reasoning why
criminals target certain artwork above others. Mr. Sanchez makes his living
on art, having studied at Lima's School of Fine Arts, operating his own
gallery on his property, and teaching the finer points of impressionist
painting to beginners and intermediates. The following are excerpts from our
conversation.

Chet Harlow: I wanted to take a moment to discuss the theft of the Monet and
Van Gogh painting earlier today. What is your reaction to this crime?
Juan Sanchez: It is heartbreaking to me that these treasures are in the
hands of these guys. But I really am not really surprised. It simply is a
reflection of the poor security that exists in many galleries and museums
around the world.

CH: In your opinion, what would motivate these criminals to target the
paintings they did?
JS: Obviously money. That would be number one. But they are not dumb guys.
They also need to create headlines. So they have targeted the best known
impressionist painter in the world. When people from the black market
community learn that a Monet is available underground, the guys who stole it
will be able to capitalize the most.
Also understand that art theft is very common. It happens in the
universities, and anywhere there is weak security. However, the lesser known
painters will not create the news coverage that the loss of a Monet or Van
Gogh would. Look around my yard (pointing to various easels standing on his
property). These could be stolen at any moment. I do not have guards. But if
that happened, CNN would not pick up the story because I am not widely
known. Maybe that is because I am still living (laughs). That is the
problem.

CH: Wouldn't the vast news coverage of the story also help to foil the plot
by drawing attention to the crime, and ultimitely to the individuals
responsible?
JS: Sure. Sure. But that is the nature of crime. They are looking for the
biggest money. You could buy this painting right here for $500 (pointing to
one of his originals of a Peruvian market scene), but if you have a Monet
you could sell for $50 million, you would have to steal a lot of my
paintings to reach that figure. These guys want to retire and go on a long
vacation.

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