Art Crimes | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/art-crimes/RSS feed for Art CrimesenThu, 16 Jul 2026 15:18:28 +0000Man Sentenced for Stealing 'Rare and Unique' Chinese Texts, Valued at More Than $200,000, by Using Aliases, Fake IDs and Dummy Manuscriptshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/man-sentenced-for-stealing-rare-and-unique-chinese-texts-valued-at-more-than-200000-by-using-aliases-fake-ids-and-dummy-manuscripts-180989134/The works were stolen from the University of California, Los Angeles, over the course of several yearsThu, 16 Jul 2026 15:18:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/man-sentenced-for-stealing-rare-and-unique-chinese-texts-valued-at-more-than-200000-by-using-aliases-fake-ids-and-dummy-manuscripts-180989134/In the Latest Brazen Heist, Jewelry and Artworks Worth $5 Million Were Stolen From a Famed French Designer's Museumhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-the-latest-brazen-heist-jewelry-and-artworks-worth-5-million-were-stolen-from-famed-french-designer-lalique-museum-180989105/A trio of burglars stole 27 pieces, including a dragonfly pendant, from the Lalique Museum in eastern FranceFri, 10 Jul 2026 17:57:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-the-latest-brazen-heist-jewelry-and-artworks-worth-5-million-were-stolen-from-famed-french-designer-lalique-museum-180989105/A Stolen Picasso Just Turned Up During a Drug Raid Near Paris, Reportedly Taken From a Storage Facilityhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-stolen-picasso-just-turned-up-during-a-drug-raid-near-paris-reportedly-taken-from-a-storage-facility-180989010/The painting has been authenticated but not revealed. Reports suggest it is one of Picasso's portraits of Marie-Thérèse WalterWed, 24 Jun 2026 20:37:59 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-stolen-picasso-just-turned-up-during-a-drug-raid-near-paris-reportedly-taken-from-a-storage-facility-180989010/Authorities Investigated Reports of an Illegal Excavation in Rome. Then, They Stumbled Upon an Ancient Villa Adorned With Mosaicshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/authorities-investigated-reports-of-an-illegal-excavation-in-rome-then-they-stumbled-upon-an-ancient-villa-adorned-with-mosaics-180988995/In the second century C.E., Roman emperors such as Marcus Aurelius and Antoninus Pius frequented the area where the residence was foundMon, 22 Jun 2026 17:58:44 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/authorities-investigated-reports-of-an-illegal-excavation-in-rome-then-they-stumbled-upon-an-ancient-villa-adorned-with-mosaics-180988995/Someone Stole a Banana Duct-Taped to the Wall of a French Museum. One of Its Duplicates Fetched More Than $6 Million at Auctionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/someone-stole-a-banana-duct-taped-to-the-wall-of-a-french-museum-one-of-its-twins-fetched-more-than-6-million-at-auction-180988878/This isn't the first time the fruit at the center of the infamous "Comedian" art piece has been stolen or eatenTue, 02 Jun 2026 17:43:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/someone-stole-a-banana-duct-taped-to-the-wall-of-a-french-museum-one-of-its-twins-fetched-more-than-6-million-at-auction-180988878/