Ben Stahl's paintings - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

zack007attack · 11-15-2010, 02:03 AM

What do you think happened to them? I see a few scenarios as to why they have never been found. First, we must note that the thieves must have been big time professionals who knew exactly what to do.

1) They decided not to risk moving them across state lines in case of border patrols, possibly to avoid being captured easily.
2) They sold them to private collectors within the state of Florida, the holders not knowing they are stolen.
3) They were shipped out of the country to be sold.

It has always bothered me that someone who took such pride in their work had it taken from them by greedy bastards. For thefts of valuable work like this, there shouldn't be a statute of limitations (they have already expired for this crime). I can only imagine how Ben Stahl must have felt.

cocytus · 11-30-2010, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zack007attack

What do you think happened to them? I see a few scenarios as to why they have never been found. First, we must note that the thieves must have been big time professionals who knew exactly what to do.

1) They decided not to risk moving them across state lines in case of border patrols, possibly to avoid being captured easily.
2) They sold them to private collectors within the state of Florida, the holders not knowing they are stolen.
3) They were shipped out of the country to be sold.

It has always bothered me that someone who took such pride in their work had it taken from them by greedy bastards. For thefts of valuable work like this, there shouldn't be a statute of limitations (they have already expired for this crime). I can only imagine how Ben Stahl must have felt.

I've always thought and have expressed on this forum in the past, that these paintings were stolen to order and now are in the hands of a collector, who wants to enjoy them all by themselves.I can imagine it would've been very expensive, but the Stahl family really should have invested far more than they did in security for these paintings. Failing that, they probably should have had them displayed in a museum that had its own security

I wonder if anybody's looking on eBay or any other online auction sites to see if these paintings have been or are being sold? The reason that I say this is because legitimate art dealers would require a provenance before they would accept for consignment or purchase any artwork.

Cori aka ChrisSCrush · 12-27-2010, 05:13 AM

This radio story reminded me of this, which should be moved up for the Christmas season: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/25/132283...veted-painting

bluejazz87 · 01-02-2011, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zack007attack

What do you think happened to them? I see a few scenarios as to why they have never been found. First, we must note that the thieves must have been big time professionals who knew exactly what to do.

1) They decided not to risk moving them across state lines in case of border patrols, possibly to avoid being captured easily.
2) They sold them to private collectors within the state of Florida, the holders not knowing they are stolen.
3) They were shipped out of the country to be sold.

It has always bothered me that someone who took such pride in their work had it taken from them by greedy bastards. For thefts of valuable work like this, there shouldn't be a statute of limitations (they have already expired for this crime). I can only imagine how Ben Stahl must have felt.

I'm guessing at this point they're out of the country and not all in one place. It's really sad. Being an artist myself, this must have took an immense amount of work to create. People really don't know the amount of effort it takes just to make one painting the quality of Ben Stahl's. It's too bad such a tragedy had to have occurred.

Victoria81 · 04-12-2015, 01:24 PM

I always wonder where are they. Sitting in someones attic? Someone has to know...I wish they would be returned to his children.

Cori aka ChrisSCrush · 04-13-2015, 02:42 AM

People will seriously steal anything not red hot or nailed down. Who in the world would steal religious paintings? Not

worshippers one hopes?

soilentgreen · 04-13-2015, 10:52 AM

I think that a private collector hired the thieves to steal the paintings and objects and potentially someone involved with the exhibtion (not Stahl) helped facilitate their theft. Two insured paintings that were on loan from another museum were not stolen (unfortunately Stahl had not insured the stolen art).

TheCars1986 · 06-11-2015, 02:54 PM

Just watched this one again.

I'd like to think that, baring being in someone's personal collection somewhere, if these paintings were still in the US at least ONE credible lead would have surfaced. I think they're long gone in another country somewhere.

everprincess · 06-11-2015, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cori aka ChrisSCrush

People will seriously steal anything not red hot or nailed down. Who in the world would steal religious paintings? Not

worshippers one hopes?

The one and only time I've been to the SSI office in town they had the chairs bolted and chained to the floors. I said to the person beside me "these chairs must cost a fortune or something". She said "they are afraid someone will steal them or throw them at the workers".

I hope I never have to visit that place again

.

I do think someone paid for these to be stolen and they are hidden somewhere overseas. We recently got a new security system in place here after some things disappeared. Peace of mind is worth alot.

TheCars1986 · 06-11-2015, 06:53 PM

I also don't believe the "alleged Catholic priest" angle presented in the UM segment. I think it was some sort of extortion scam.

amandab1234 · 06-11-2015, 07:30 PM

You know it's amazing artwork when even me as an atheist was moved by the artwork and it's beauty!! The way the actor who played Ben Stahl portrayed his sadness that they were stolen was on point. I agree that they are out of the country and the theory another poster mentioned that it was an inside job makes sense to me & I agree. It couldve been someone who was from out of the country who visited the location where the paintings were and might have checked the surroundings to see if the coast was clear to steal them. They hired someone to steal them and then they fled the country. I highly doubt we will ever see them again.

As for the catholic priest, why would they lie about it but at the same time if I remember correctly, the priest became fearful and didnt want to go into detail about the incident after that.

TheCars1986 · 06-12-2015, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amandab1234

As for the catholic priest, why would they lie about it but at the same time if I remember correctly, the priest became fearful and didnt want to go into detail about the incident after that.

The segment says a man claiming to be a Catholic priest called Stahl (or one of his children, I can't recall right now) and said that a man came into the church to essentially relay a message to the Stahl family that if they wanted the paintings back, they needed to pay $1.5 million for them. When police pressed the caller, he wouldn't identify himself and then simply disappeared altogether. I think it was a scam and the guy wasn't a priest.

amandab1234 · 06-12-2015, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

The segment says a man claiming to be a Catholic priest called Stahl (or one of his children, I can't recall right now) and said that a man came into the church to essentially relay a message to the Stahl family that if they wanted the paintings back, they needed to pay $1.5 million for them. When police pressed the caller, he wouldn't identify himself and then simply disappeared altogether. I think it was a scam and the guy wasn't a priest.

Sounds like HE was trying to get money out of it not the "thieves"

TheCars1986 · 06-12-2015, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amandab1234

Sounds like HE was trying to get money out of it not the "thieves"

That's exactly what I think happened.

amandab1234 · 06-15-2015, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RebZissel

The work of an organized crime syndicate. It was far too well-executed for it to have been some thieves from the street.

Reminds me of the largest art heist in history. Boston 1990 - 50 million dollars worth stolen.

Organized crime units specialize in these very well planned heists.

Hmm.. never thought about organized crime..

11-15-2010, 02:03 AM	#1
zack007attack Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 30, 2009 Posts: 402	Ben Stahl's paintings What do you think happened to them? I see a few scenarios as to why they have never been found. First, we must note that the thieves must have been big time professionals who knew exactly what to do. 1) They decided not to risk moving them across state lines in case of border patrols, possibly to avoid being captured easily. 2) They sold them to private collectors within the state of Florida, the holders not knowing they are stolen. 3) They were shipped out of the country to be sold. It has always bothered me that someone who took such pride in their work had it taken from them by greedy bastards. For thefts of valuable work like this, there shouldn't be a statute of limitations (they have already expired for this crime). I can only imagine how Ben Stahl must have felt.

12-27-2010, 05:13 AM	#3
Cori aka ChrisSCrush Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 30, 2001 Location: USA and still trying to be proud of it! Posts: 2,068	This radio story reminded me of this, which should be moved up for the Christmas season: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/25/132283...veted-painting

04-12-2015, 01:24 PM	#5
Victoria81 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 20, 2011 Posts: 340	I always wonder where are they. Sitting in someones attic? Someone has to know...I wish they would be returned to his children.

04-13-2015, 02:42 AM	#6
Cori aka ChrisSCrush Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 30, 2001 Location: USA and still trying to be proud of it! Posts: 2,068	People will seriously steal anything not red hot or nailed down. Who in the world would steal religious paintings? Not worshippers one hopes?

04-13-2015, 10:52 AM	#7
soilentgreen Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 13, 2005 Posts: 622	I think that a private collector hired the thieves to steal the paintings and objects and potentially someone involved with the exhibtion (not Stahl) helped facilitate their theft. Two insured paintings that were on loan from another museum were not stolen (unfortunately Stahl had not insured the stolen art).

06-11-2015, 02:54 PM	#8
TheCars1986 #VLSKMS Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 22, 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,606	Just watched this one again. I'd like to think that, baring being in someone's personal collection somewhere, if these paintings were still in the US at least ONE credible lead would have surfaced. I think they're long gone in another country somewhere.

06-11-2015, 06:53 PM	#10
TheCars1986 #VLSKMS Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 22, 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,606	I also don't believe the "alleged Catholic priest" angle presented in the UM segment. I think it was some sort of extortion scam.

06-11-2015, 07:30 PM	#11
amandab1234 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 17, 2011 Posts: 573	You know it's amazing artwork when even me as an atheist was moved by the artwork and it's beauty!! The way the actor who played Ben Stahl portrayed his sadness that they were stolen was on point. I agree that they are out of the country and the theory another poster mentioned that it was an inside job makes sense to me & I agree. It couldve been someone who was from out of the country who visited the location where the paintings were and might have checked the surroundings to see if the coast was clear to steal them. They hired someone to steal them and then they fled the country. I highly doubt we will ever see them again. As for the catholic priest, why would they lie about it but at the same time if I remember correctly, the priest became fearful and didnt want to go into detail about the incident after that.