10 precious things that were stolen by unscrupulous thieves with excellent taste (11 photos)

Thieves have different appetites. Some are content with little in the form of pickpocketing and unimportant trinkets, while others decide on a dangerous adventure in order to hit an enviable jackpot.





History knows many cases when people decided to steal very, very expensive things right from under the noses of the guardians of the law. Some were soon caught and imprisoned, while others disappeared without a trace with their treasures.

Today we invite you to recall some of the most high-profile cases involving the theft of valuables worth crazy amounts of money.

“Ruby” shoes of the main character of the film “The Wizard of Rhinestones OZ”



The “Ruby” shoes disappeared in 2005. They were stolen straight from a museum in Minnesota. The robber simply broke the window in the display case and stole the exhibit. In 2018, the legendary pair of shoes was found. However, law enforcement agencies have not yet shared the results and details of the investigation with anyone.

The cost of the legendary props is estimated at $1 million. However, many experts suggest that today magic shoes are several times more expensive.

Faberge eggs





Carl Faberge's series of precious eggs included 52 items. After the revolution, most of the imperial treasures ended up in private collections and museums. Eight items are believed to have been stolen.

Not long ago, one of these eggs was discovered in the possession of a scrap metal dealer (photo on the left). The found jewel was valued at $33 million.

Stradivarius violin



Antonio Stradivari became famous for making unique and very high-quality musical instruments. One of his violins was stolen from the famous violinist Erica Morini. Thieves broke into her apartment and took away the legendary value. Unfortunately, the instrument was never found. Today the value of the violin is estimated at $3.5 million.

Salt shaker "Salier"



An amazing golden figurine from 1543 was created by the famous jeweler Benvenuto Cellini especially for King Francis I. It was kept for a long time in the Museum of History and Arts, which is located in Austria. During the renovation of the building, Salieru was kidnapped. Three years later, police discovered the relic buried in the woods. Law enforcement officials are confident that the attackers simply were unable to sell the figurine because of its popularity.

The cost of Saliera is estimated at $50 million.

Painting "Mona Lisa"



An incredible incident happened more than 100 years ago. The world-famous work of art was stolen by an Italian named Vincenzo Perugei. At the time of the theft, he was working as a master at the Louvre. The portrait was found two years later in Italy. It turns out that the thief not only miraculously removed the painting from the museum, but was also able to transport it across the guarded border. The attacker tried to sell the Mona Lisa to the director of a gallery in Florence. However, he contacted the police and gave a tip to Vincenzo.

The painting “The Scream” and other works of the artist



Thieves have a special passion for Edvard Munch's paintings. First, in 1994, they stole the painting “The Scream,” which is valued at one hundred million dollars (1910 variation). In 2004, they coveted his “Madonna”. In 2005, two lithographs and one watercolor were stolen. And in 2018, as many as six works by the master were discovered missing. Fortunately, most of them returned safely to their places.

Dinosaur bones



In 1945, the remains of a rare bipedal predator, Tarbosaurus, were discovered in Mongolia. An American named Eric Prokopi stole the exhibit and tried to sell it during an auction in New York, which took place back in 2012. The auction was successful. The thief managed to get more than a million dollars for the dinosaur. However, the authorities soon learned about his tricks. Eric had to return the dinosaur to Mongolia and suffer the punishment he deserved.

Gold funerary crowns that belonged to King Charles IX and his wife Queen Kr.truth



Two 17th-century royal crowns were stolen in Sweden. The thieves simply broke the glass of the display case, took the jewelry and sailed away on their boat. The attackers were soon detained. However, to date it has not been possible to return the jewelry to its rightful place.

Giant Canadian Royal Coin



A giant gold coin featuring the Queen, worth $4 million, was stolen from a museum in Germany. Unfortunately, the thieves and the jewelry were not found.

Rocket engine



The Saturn RL-10 engine was stolen from one of the most secure places on the planet - a NASA warehouse. The attackers not only transported the spare part unnoticed, but also managed to place it on an online trading platform. The thieves asked for 200 thousand dollars for it. Of course, NASA soon confiscated its engine.