Meet the Man Who Stole $1.4 Billion With a Screwdriver

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 12. 09. 2021
  • Thanks to Keeps for sponsoring this video! Go to www.keeps.com/thoughty2 to get 50% off your first order of Keeps hair loss treatment.
    Listen to my new podcast Random Interesting Facts: bit.ly/RIFThoughty2
    Or watch it on CZcams: bit.ly/RIFPodcastYT
    Thoughty2 Audiobook: geni.us/t2audio
    Thoughty2 Book: geni.us/t2book
    Support Me & Get Early Access: bit.ly/t2club
    Thoughty2 Merchandise: bit.ly/t2merch
    Follow Thoughty2
    Facebook: / thoughty2
    Instagram: / thoughty2
    Website: thoughty2.com
    About Thoughty2
    Thoughty2 (Arran) is a British CZcamsr and gatekeeper of useless facts. Thoughty2 creates mind-blowing factual videos about science, tech, history, opinion and just about everything else.
    #Thoughty2
    Writing: Steven Rix
    Editing: Jack Stevens

Komentáře • 3,6K

  • @Thoughty2
    @Thoughty2  Před 2 lety +462

    Thanks for watching! And thanks to Keeps for sponsoring this video! Go to www.keeps.com/thoughty2 to get 50% off your first order of Keeps hair loss treatment.

  • @Siegmeyer_
    @Siegmeyer_ Před 2 lety +6412

    His mother destroying all that artwork made me want to cry! All that history wiped away

    • @TheSefk
      @TheSefk Před 2 lety +586

      Yeah all the statues being torn down and everything being renamed is a damn shame, too

    • @Zedryx69
      @Zedryx69 Před 2 lety +168

      At least some of them weren't burned up, and never seen again, but instead thrown into the forest where someone could just find it and either steal it for themselves, or be a good citizen.

    • @MarlonBitoy
      @MarlonBitoy Před 2 lety +263

      @@TheSefk fun fact: all the historical confederacy statues and plaques come from the 1940s and beyond, funded by former plantation owners and families in an attempt to wipe clean the horrid track records of those people. They realized that most people who remembered that era were dead. In fact, basically no statues honoring the confederacy were built anywhere near to their defeat.

    • @akg_table
      @akg_table Před 2 lety +162

      It put a grin on my face. Dozens of regular paintings, obsessed over by billionaires, destroyed unceremoniously with water and fire. Oh well, they'll have to pick some other Lionardo or Vun Go painting to overvalue

    • @RobertCannesRobert
      @RobertCannesRobert Před 2 lety +27

      @Lotus dude nobody uses faxs anymore

  • @grabble7605
    @grabble7605 Před 2 lety +3604

    The irony of it all. He stole this art out of appreciation, and he's the reason countless irreplaceable pieces were destroyed forever.

    • @flamingiceclone
      @flamingiceclone Před 2 lety +223

      His mother is ....He is a kleptomaniac his mom is a freaking psychopath

    • @grabble7605
      @grabble7605 Před 2 lety +28

      @@flamingiceclone Say more incorrect things.

    • @Vincent_Beers
      @Vincent_Beers Před 2 lety +202

      @@grabble7605 He's not incorrect. Stephane didn't destroy the art, his mother did. Stephane is a kleptomaniac, his mother is a psychopath. Anyone who actually appreciates the art might have stolen it and tried to hide it, but would not destroy it.

    • @grabble7605
      @grabble7605 Před 2 lety +79

      @@Vincent_Beers He is incorrect. Stephane is not a kleptomaniac and his mother is not a psychopath. Stealing things is not the entire criteria of kleptomania and destroying stuff is not any of the criteria of psychopathy.

    • @palodoxaliqua5809
      @palodoxaliqua5809 Před 2 lety +38

      @@grabble7605 Then a individual not "destroying stuff" is also "not any of the criteria" for this individual to be the reason for the destruction of said stuff.
      Isn't it fun to argue about pointless details of phrasiology with strangers on the internet? It indeed never gets old to see who has the bigger di.. aehm.. stronger argument.

  • @michaelhirschbuhl1823
    @michaelhirschbuhl1823 Před rokem +260

    The fact that he stole the art because he just really liked it makes me unexplainably happy 😂

    • @sidneyshaw9205
      @sidneyshaw9205 Před rokem +8

      You think that's funny?

    • @michaelhirschbuhl1823
      @michaelhirschbuhl1823 Před rokem +36

      @@sidneyshaw9205 It’s funny in the sense that he wasn’t motivated by money. It’s just unusual that his only motivation for stealing the art was because he liked it. That makes me chuckle.

    • @joeybesignano9203
      @joeybesignano9203 Před rokem

      @@sidneyshaw9205 you're a little bitch lol its just a painting

    • @walteroreilly8963
      @walteroreilly8963 Před rokem +3

      That is the reason most stolen art owners do it.

    • @inkfromthebrain
      @inkfromthebrain Před rokem +2

      Klepto, I knew a kleptomaniac they rarely have a reason to steal, they just do.

  • @dwalters98
    @dwalters98 Před rokem +36

    The ironic part is if the mother had just hid the artwork in some way instead of trying to destroy and dispose of it the way she had, it could of possibly gone WAY different for him.

    • @LRM12o8
      @LRM12o8 Před rokem +2

      If her flat and the attic her son lived in were different units, then she could just have hidden the artworks in her flat or the basement, since the police only got a search warrant for her son's flat...

  • @divegabe
    @divegabe Před 2 lety +1806

    It was deliberate. He advertised hair loss knowing people would be pulling the hair out when they heard the mother destroying them!

    • @twobrokeguyz1214
      @twobrokeguyz1214 Před 2 lety +18

      Haha!! Good one!

    • @eddyraye5825
      @eddyraye5825 Před 2 lety +16

      It's all a plot to sell hair loss medication.

    • @rainbowfrogs1387
      @rainbowfrogs1387 Před 2 lety +7

      That's so good hahaha

    • @whatkenyan7684
      @whatkenyan7684 Před 2 lety +9

      of all conspiracy theories I believe in that one because if had really long hair I would have pulled it all out with thumping hands when I heard of the destruction of evidence by the mother. I wish I never watched this video.

    • @MilkmanC
      @MilkmanC Před 2 lety +2

      @@whatkenyan7684 I hate those idiots so much. Of course Karen, I mean Mom knew best

  • @wizmanballin8498
    @wizmanballin8498 Před 2 lety +451

    He had the same insatiable desire for art I used to have for lemon twist donuts in high school. How I loved the taste of thee!!

    • @WhuDhat
      @WhuDhat Před 2 lety +8

      That sounds good, don't think I've had one before, are they filled? Or topped with lemon icing?

    • @wizmanballin8498
      @wizmanballin8498 Před 2 lety +15

      @@WhuDhat It was a lemon glaze. They were so good I would literally cut grass for money to get some of those things..until I got a summer job in my sophomore year. It was smooth sailing ever since.😂👍

    • @WhuDhat
      @WhuDhat Před 2 lety +7

      @@wizmanballin8498 haha nice, I'll keep an eye out for them next time I'm at a donut shop or bakery. I've had lemon filled donuts before and always liked them, kind of rare to find though.

    • @vibaj16
      @vibaj16 Před 2 lety +4

      so you're saying you stole 1.4 billion dollars worth of lemon twist donuts?

    • @wizmanballin8498
      @wizmanballin8498 Před 2 lety +1

      @@vibaj16 You need life lessons....🤔

  • @Aegishand
    @Aegishand Před rokem +64

    This is one of the most fascinating stories I've heard on your channel, absolutely breathtaking.

    • @AmstradExin
      @AmstradExin Před rokem +1

      What fascinated me the most is how they got to the USA, including the guard who had time to get into a USA police uniform (:

  • @raconte-moialice9509
    @raconte-moialice9509 Před 2 lety +106

    You’re an excellent narrator, I felt like I was there 😁

    • @Miswak.
      @Miswak. Před rokem +1

      Me too! I was the officer in the background at 19:17

    • @kayasper6081
      @kayasper6081 Před rokem +1

      I felt you watched over my shoulder while I stole the paintings

  • @MrClintM
    @MrClintM Před 2 lety +994

    The lack of security generally required for millions of people to be able to see works of art and not have anything stolen is proof that most of us humans are to be trusted. It just takes that one person who can cause more harm than millions of others and we all are punished with the expenses of security, locking things up and taking away the warmth of a community.

    • @prepperjonpnw6482
      @prepperjonpnw6482 Před 2 lety +54

      It doesn’t probe that we are to be trusted lol. It proves that most people are afraid of getting caught lol

    • @RyleeStrange
      @RyleeStrange Před 2 lety +28

      it actually proves a lot of things, which proves nothing it means:
      a.) some people are to be trusted
      b.) some don't want to be caught
      c.) some don't care enough about to object to steal it, but given the same chance with a more appetizing object to steal...
      my list could go on.

    • @someuser6747
      @someuser6747 Před 2 lety +17

      Same as in Airports, its called "security theater", kind like marketing, trying to show the customer value where there is none, or in that case security where ther is none.
      I had pcoket knifes in my backpack without me knowing several times and used the "wrong" elevator at an airport that just transported me to the next level, skipping customs.
      The biggest enemy of actual security is a low budget and lazy guards and managers

    • @dewokbabys3140
      @dewokbabys3140 Před 2 lety +7

      @@someuser6747 that is simply implausible. A liar you must be.

    • @ShawnJonesHellion
      @ShawnJonesHellion Před 2 lety +4

      I was always the best person in the room untill I was shown differently. I felt like I was judging people a little bit incorrectly after the unseen forces in the world gave me a history lesson.

  • @Theineluctable_SOME_CANT
    @Theineluctable_SOME_CANT Před 2 lety +580

    "And, like all good stories, this one starts with cheese."
    Obviously a Wallace and Grommet fan.

    • @bczarrockbeast6264
      @bczarrockbeast6264 Před 2 lety +9

      Oh I thought you were quoting hunter biden. Lol

    • @peterroberts4415
      @peterroberts4415 Před 2 lety +3

      @@bczarrockbeast6264 Lets just say this guy wouldn't be stealing Hunter's paintings, unlike his Chinese buddies

    • @Foolish188
      @Foolish188 Před 2 lety +2

      I forgot about Wallace and Grommit, thought it was a reference to Mr. Sensible. Lol

    • @harrycollins3248
      @harrycollins3248 Před 2 lety +1

      @@bczarrockbeast6264 I don't get the connection?

    • @smelliotshamlington567
      @smelliotshamlington567 Před 2 lety +5

      Wallace is my idol.

  • @simonfox_8559
    @simonfox_8559 Před 2 lety +6

    "Whats ur idea of the perfect first date?"
    "Idk... stealing 1.4 billion dollars worth of artwork ig"

  • @shuruff904
    @shuruff904 Před 2 lety +3

    Thoughty2.....
    I know you'll never see this, but your videos are some if the greatest on CZcams. I know that you know this, but you have many fans and we all love you and your work. Greetings from Jacksonville, Fl.!!!!!

  • @jackdurden466
    @jackdurden466 Před 2 lety +639

    I am actually feeling a physical sick reaction to the mothers burning of such art. It’s happened long ago many times when rulers during the medieval period and earlier would in war destroy entire libraries and any museum just to erase history of the invaded lands. And so much, if not all, were single prints without any other copies and all lost to fires. An enormous amount of history gone up in smoke.

    • @bczarrockbeast6264
      @bczarrockbeast6264 Před 2 lety +20

      It's still happening they don't even need fire now just a couple clicks an boom its gone.

    • @pebblepod30
      @pebblepod30 Před 2 lety +18

      IKr, me too. I was expecting they would not be harmed. Her son would not have wanted them harmed.

    • @montanateri6889
      @montanateri6889 Před 2 lety +2

      Makes my breath short... my skin crawls... OMG.... irreplaceable!

    • @mobilemcsmarty1466
      @mobilemcsmarty1466 Před 2 lety +16

      yeah, a city lady at that age should have known the value to the world when going to destroy such irreplaceable history. I know she wanted to protect her son. that's what moms will and should do. for all that effort, she and the girlfriend could have cooperated to find some other nice anonymous attic or garage to store the loot. if not for the mom's poor effort at destruction, the kid would be out easy again. in adding just one more step to find alternate storage, the art would be saved and the kid also out. he was still doomed because he couldn't bring himself to stop. important lessons here- 1. don't steal art. 2. moderate your bad habits 3. don't talk to cops 😎

    • @MightyDrunken
      @MightyDrunken Před 2 lety +7

      My dad told me the story of one of his uncles. He was a linguist who knew 10+ languages and worked for the MOD as a translator. During the war he helped Jews escape from Nazi Germany. He had an extensive library of many rare books.
      When he died, his wife burnt all the books. ;{

  • @TheFrozenBanana
    @TheFrozenBanana Před 2 lety +57

    How is this not a movie?! Such a good arc, excitement and tragedy. I'd watch it.

    • @daemonbane1
      @daemonbane1 Před rokem

      Mans still confirmed stealing as of 2019 so I think we have a few more years before his story has enough of an ending for that movie to work.

  • @just-dragon-yt
    @just-dragon-yt Před rokem +3

    your content is really amazing and from all the channels i been following over the years, yours is one i like the most, the way u explain things, your accent, your charisma, you are interesting too listen too, your voice is made for this!! awesome channel.

    • @Exxeron-ob3tv
      @Exxeron-ob3tv Před rokem +1

      Have you checked out the Why Files?

    • @Bambisgf77
      @Bambisgf77 Před 6 měsíci

      @@Exxeron-ob3tvAJ & Hecklefish have charisma in spades! WF is such a great channel.

  • @paparoysworkshop
    @paparoysworkshop Před 2 lety +2

    So many items of art and history have been lost in the past for many reasons. To purposely burn them is so heart breaking.

  • @bendystudios7798
    @bendystudios7798 Před 2 lety +997

    This man is the most non evil criminal that I have ever seen. It’s surprising that he just kept the artwork around the house as a token of his love for art. I respect that.

    • @mozziegang
      @mozziegang Před 2 lety +24

      and then proceeded to have it all get destroyed. yeah pssh right respect.

    • @dshmechanic
      @dshmechanic Před 2 lety +72

      @@mozziegang Not according to the video, if you watched it through until the end. He had no idea what his mother was doing to the priceless pieces as he languished in police custody. I'm thinking when he finally found out his mother destroyed them, he was a wee bit pissed.

    • @mozziegang
      @mozziegang Před 2 lety +6

      @@dshmechanic lol ok the judicial system can hold him responsible for the destruction too. its his fault that he put the art pieces in a position where they could be so easily destroyed, now some people here in the comments are legit putting him on a pedestal.

    • @joesmoe2245
      @joesmoe2245 Před 2 lety +1

      Yeah then his mother burned and destroyed the rest. How lovely was that appreciation 😅

    • @mozziegang
      @mozziegang Před 2 lety +5

      @@issadraco532 chill mam this is just a comment 😅

  • @giormr_heks
    @giormr_heks Před 2 lety +174

    Anyone else noticed an interesting painting at 9:12? The sixth in the third row.

    • @bobbiusshadow6985
      @bobbiusshadow6985 Před 2 lety +28

      Of course
      edit: But did you notice the little Easter eggs, such as the "miso soup escape artist" in one of the paintings

    • @giormr_heks
      @giormr_heks Před 2 lety +11

      @@bobbiusshadow6985 I didn't notice it, good eye

    • @PMA65537
      @PMA65537 Před 2 lety +3

      ratio of circumference to diameter

    • @oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164
      @oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164 Před 2 lety +11

      That's THE Moustache by Renoir.

    • @Jaker2123
      @Jaker2123 Před 2 lety +3

      Hahahaaaa yep

  • @christopherreed1065
    @christopherreed1065 Před 2 lety

    This was actually very interesting compared to what I usually watch on CZcams. Thanks for the video

  • @reypolice5231
    @reypolice5231 Před rokem +33

    What is probably most disturbing is this was never put on the news. This is the first I'm hearing about this and it's a 20-year-old event. He's probably still running around doing it. They keep letting him out after a few years.

    • @daemonbane1
      @daemonbane1 Před rokem +2

      Well, he got caught in 2005, published his book in 2006, Got caught again in both 2011 and 2019 and clearly the book sales weren't enough given he was trying to sell the paperweight online. He's been proven to be actively stealing from ages 25 through ~48, so I'm pretty sure he's not getting better.
      At this point its just untreated serial kleptomania and he'll probably be stealing for his whole life.

    • @hamsandwich1333
      @hamsandwich1333 Před rokem +4

      Disturbing? It’s downright hilarious. He should get a job as a museum security inspector and they should pay him for showing them how vulnerable their pieces are. 😂 what a guy

    • @reypolice5231
      @reypolice5231 Před rokem

      @@hamsandwich1333
      Not funny as he destroyed hundreds of original art work.
      I think they were copies as nobody put up a fuss.

    • @hamsandwich1333
      @hamsandwich1333 Před rokem

      @@reypolice5231 he didn’t destroy nothing, his mother did. Also art is overvalued anyway. It’s all just some random people’s scribbles. The majority of it doesn’t even look pleasant anyways. People who think art is some priceless commodity never grew up and are half retarded.

    • @reypolice5231
      @reypolice5231 Před rokem

      @@hamsandwich1333
      A picture is worth a thousand works. His actions of theft premeditated, lead to his mother destroying the evidence.
      Weather you value art or not it is some else's work and someone else's property. If art doesn't communicate to you, kindly go to a museum or art gallery and find something that you find beautiful and dose communicate joy, and love, or brings you peace.
      If you can't or won't look at man's creations, kindly look at all that the creator made around you. It's all Art, a butterfly, a puppy, a flower, the world is god's art gallery and man copies it because it is beautiful.
      Yes the dollar value it opinion.
      But the real value is it's impact on people's lives. The impact that art had on mankind and his peace is forever lost.
      Kindly look for the joy in all the art that is around you. Some of it is not my taste, but some of it is. Never the less it dose resonate with someone else,
      Hope you find something beautiful to look at and marvel. A tree, a mountain, a forest, morning sunrise over a valley with the fog lifting and the birds singing, all Art and some people capture that moment in art, some don't.

  • @inzomniacZz
    @inzomniacZz Před 2 lety +641

    Steph stealing the art just to enjoy and collect it rather than make a quick buck- that's funnily wholesome.
    Hurts my soul to know his mom destroyed em though, bet it ruined Steph's day too lol.

    • @UrSoulsBelong2Nahobeeho
      @UrSoulsBelong2Nahobeeho Před 2 lety +18

      I'd be devastated tbh... *depressing*

    • @ghe5669
      @ghe5669 Před 2 lety +51

      Even more wholesome when you consider the fact that he took the bullet for his GF. He must've really loved her.

    • @Automat1cJack
      @Automat1cJack Před 2 lety +16

      Agreed. Best reason to nick some shit is because you like it.

    • @starfishfuukow6860
      @starfishfuukow6860 Před 2 lety +14

      I thought so too at first but then realized he was actually being selfish. I am sure other art lovers would’ve wanted to be able to appreciate them too, he just wanted to keep them for himself

    • @SlapstickGenius23
      @SlapstickGenius23 Před 2 lety

      Steph the thief’s Family is so screwed up.

  • @thejudgmentalcat
    @thejudgmentalcat Před 2 lety +378

    "This man stole 1.5 billion dollars worth of art with a screwdriver" - original title

    • @jonwashburn7999
      @jonwashburn7999 Před 2 lety +2

      Thanks

    • @dolchzb
      @dolchzb Před 2 lety +8

      no, original title was "Meet the Greatest Art Thief of All Time". some buzz words but a damn bold statement

    • @snoozley853
      @snoozley853 Před 2 lety +3

      @@dolchzb No, OP is correct.

    • @hapwn
      @hapwn Před 2 lety +2

      Meet The Most Autistic Artistic Artisan Thief in History! 👈😂

    • @jacobfredman9442
      @jacobfredman9442 Před 2 lety

      to be honest 10/10 better title

  • @Tanoaproductionsfiji
    @Tanoaproductionsfiji Před 2 lety

    Thank you very much. Fantastic Job! Amazing story! Thank you!

  • @wayneciabaszewski3173
    @wayneciabaszewski3173 Před 28 dny

    that was a great story. and the way you tell it wonderful.

  • @Octave_Rolland
    @Octave_Rolland Před 2 lety +174

    There's a moral in there, in the way his obsessive love for these art pieces led to their destruction.

    • @jefffarris3359
      @jefffarris3359 Před 2 lety +7

      So true. That's usually what happens with obsessing over something.

    • @Nobody-11B
      @Nobody-11B Před 2 lety +2

      Rod serling would have been proud of the story...

    • @leeking6939
      @leeking6939 Před 2 lety +4

      Like a moth to a flame

    • @SlapstickGenius23
      @SlapstickGenius23 Před 2 lety

      @@leeking6939 but moths are nocturnal and follow the moon instead of a flame.

    • @leeking6939
      @leeking6939 Před 2 lety +3

      @@SlapstickGenius23 nope moths are drawn to fire. They can't help themselves. That's why they enter it and die. If you have been to a camp you will understand

  • @ivanstayner8818
    @ivanstayner8818 Před 2 lety +237

    People never expect the simple and easiest ways to do something. They think something like stealing art is going to take months of planning, and a team of people. So when you do the EXACT opposite of that. People will never assume it would ever happen.

    • @ShawnJonesHellion
      @ShawnJonesHellion Před 2 lety +4

      when one pass security everything they are looking for is right in front of their face. - The story of the boy who stole (valueable) wagons filled with useless dirt from the castle

    • @notallowed337
      @notallowed337 Před 2 lety +6

      It all depends on the situation.
      Some require months even years of planning while another job that has a similar result only requires a screwdriver level of planning and effort.

    • @courier6960
      @courier6960 Před 2 lety +6

      A lot of security is mainly theater, it’s there to prevent people from thinking that they can steal something, not to actually prevent theft. This is effectively border security and the TSA to a tee.

    • @repatch43
      @repatch43 Před rokem

      If you just want to stare at the piece in the privacy of your own home, yes. If you want to fence the piece and get cash out of your effort? I does takes months of planning, and certainly a team of fences to make it happen, unless you want to get caught.

    • @dragonateminer1112
      @dragonateminer1112 Před rokem

      Thus, Occam's razor

  • @moody5271
    @moody5271 Před 2 lety

    bruh this is great content, never disappointed me so far

  • @Krullmatic
    @Krullmatic Před rokem +10

    What a great story! Damn, I can't believe his mom destroyed them! Surely she could've found someplace to hide them. Was they ever able to fix any of the paintings that were damaged?

    • @synchronicity-thelanguageo3991
      @synchronicity-thelanguageo3991 Před rokem +1

      Nope, because they were all completely burnt to ashes, which then brings up a question. Why did the mother make the 'I burnt this artwork, so you couldn't find the artwork' excuse by knowing full well she was going to lead the investigators to the ashes???? Seems like we're assuming she's being honest and no manipulation is going on. I suspect he mother has thrown some artwork on the fire, you know the cheaper ones, and also created some splashes of paint on some cheap paper ext and thrown that on the fire too...giving the impression that she burnt it all. What if, this isn't the end of the story? Imagine it isn't, and in 20 years Thoughty2 has to make a new video how the mother had the same genes for manipulation and keeping artwork. 😝

  • @josephine1468
    @josephine1468 Před 2 lety +334

    who will win?
    A security team/system and a police force
    or
    Handy Manny

    • @Chkprofilename
      @Chkprofilename Před 2 lety +1

      Yes. czcams.com/video/_3FBiRDt9kk/video.html
      Fax

    • @josephine1468
      @josephine1468 Před 2 lety +8

      please stop replying with crappy foreign spirituality channel spam

    • @simmonedavis98
      @simmonedavis98 Před 2 lety +1

      Handy Manny, of course! Why is this even a question? Lmao

    • @Sunny-ff8xi
      @Sunny-ff8xi Před 2 lety

      Handy manny!

    • @MrBelles104
      @MrBelles104 Před 2 lety +1

      Security team. He only had the guts to steal from small museums with barley any security.

  • @russellconn
    @russellconn Před 2 lety +232

    I can't believe how atrocious the security was in those museums especially the one he revisited multiple times.

    • @Automat1cJack
      @Automat1cJack Před 2 lety +5

      You'd think they'd up their security game after that shit

    • @RainbowYak
      @RainbowYak Před 2 lety +16

      As a Swiss I can assure you this is very normal here because literally everything in Switzerland is about trust. Swiss people are generally very honest and we all trust each other, so the idea that some people might actually have bad intentions usually doesn't even cross our minds until someone actually does something bad.

    • @melody3741
      @melody3741 Před 2 lety +1

      Yeah museums who go through all your shit and then dont let you get close enough to even see the paintings because they dont trust you fucking suck

    • @Foolish188
      @Foolish188 Před 2 lety +3

      Most Museums have very small budgets.

    • @1locust1
      @1locust1 Před 2 lety +1

      In this instance the thief was a foreigner.

  • @russellfroggatt
    @russellfroggatt Před 2 lety

    Master story teller. Brilliant channel.

  • @Violetskate
    @Violetskate Před rokem +1

    This is literally the most entertaining channel ever

  • @jackbriar8947
    @jackbriar8947 Před 2 lety +44

    I love how he put a picture of cartoon Yoshie Shiratori holding the bowl of miso from the previous video as a painting in the museum at 15:48

    • @zarashah
      @zarashah Před 2 lety

      Smart to catch that little detail

  • @odarrien
    @odarrien Před 2 lety +93

    Seems he appreciated artwork more than many who own them for the sake of owning 'expensive art'.

    • @Faradeth1111
      @Faradeth1111 Před rokem +7

      Art is tax evasion for most owners, lets say they buy it for 3 mil 5 years later they hire their own appraiser and evaluate the painting at 25mil for reasons inflation that it hasnt appeared in public etc. etc..After that they donate said painting to a museum and hooray 20+ mil saved on taxes from the tax deduction. What they are doing is essentially pre paying their taxes at a 90% discount and if you own a gallery acquiring said art is a tax deduction to begin with.

    • @ax3226
      @ax3226 Před rokem

      It’s investment

  • @gisleyalves2549
    @gisleyalves2549 Před rokem +1

    🇧🇷 I confess: I LOVE the stories ( in my perception , the history , once they are real) I listen to from this channel.🇧🇷

  • @corvettebob96
    @corvettebob96 Před rokem

    The tale is very well articulated. Kept my attention the whole time. I cringed when you said the mother burned and sank the paintings. I don't even know much about art.

  • @Gamer_io
    @Gamer_io Před 2 lety +161

    This guy is the frickin’ Agent 47 who steals paintings.

    • @univuniveral9713
      @univuniveral9713 Před 2 lety +2

      I hate thieves who steal art. It is really not cool and it is weak.

    • @Gamer_io
      @Gamer_io Před 2 lety +7

      @@univuniveral9713 well, I hate thieves in general. 😅

    • @Adama.1
      @Adama.1 Před 2 lety +7

      @@univuniveral9713 I don't care if someone steals art from a museum. I hate thieves who steal from people's homes more.

    • @Foolish188
      @Foolish188 Před 2 lety +5

      @@Gamer_io I hate people who use the Government to steal from Peter to give to Paul, thinking they did something noble. But can't reach into their own pocket to give to Paul themselves.

  • @DickLongFlop14
    @DickLongFlop14 Před 2 lety +111

    Haha he used rudimentary disguises I can just picture someone being like “hey, you are the guy that stole a bunch of our art last week are you?” And the thief just saying “ of course not, I have a mustache and glasses, so there’s no way it was me”

    • @cvi4057
      @cvi4057 Před 2 lety +2

      Exactly!!

    • @Matthew-Fair
      @Matthew-Fair Před 2 lety +9

      What's actually crazy about it is most people don't think thieve are just gonna be out in the open with cartoony disguises, but it actually works because no one suspects it

    • @joelbechtolt
      @joelbechtolt Před 2 lety +1

      You da Crumb!!!

    • @mist7295
      @mist7295 Před 2 lety

      Super easy

    • @19TheFallen
      @19TheFallen Před 2 lety +1

      Suddenly, Clark Kent and his glasses don't look as silly as I thought they did.......

  • @michealbohmer2871
    @michealbohmer2871 Před rokem

    Hahaha!! Love the Aaron portrait amongst the artwork at 10:59! Priceless, one might say.

  • @dieselweasel7720
    @dieselweasel7720 Před rokem

    You put you're portrait on the wall of priceless art, I love it

  • @georgfranko
    @georgfranko Před 2 lety +288

    Art costs as much as the buyer is willing to pay for it . So in his eyes he may think he stole 50$ in total :D

    • @tsmith3286
      @tsmith3286 Před 2 lety +2

      Exactly

    • @VivekYadav-ds8oz
      @VivekYadav-ds8oz Před 2 lety +30

      Damn the lawyer must've used this to reduce his sentence.

    • @NarwahlGaming
      @NarwahlGaming Před 2 lety +45

      "Art costs the amount of money someone needs to launder."

    • @dallywang6143
      @dallywang6143 Před 2 lety +2

      Surely the seller also has a say in it?

    • @veryfrozen3271
      @veryfrozen3271 Před 2 lety +11

      @@NarwahlGaming need to move 500million and insure it without paying taxes??? 🤣😂

  • @sergetheijspartner2005
    @sergetheijspartner2005 Před 2 lety +92

    All those priceless paintings burned or waterdamaged, i nearly got a heart attack when you got to that bit, holy crap what a loss and I am not even an art fan myself, but to me it is not the paintings themselves, or the value of money but the sheer link to times long gone, the history they depicted from times we can't even imagine anymore, like seeing the last pictures of your beloved dead grandmother burning in a housefire, memories gone forever.

    • @junyaiwase
      @junyaiwase Před 2 lety +11

      the world before: 🌎 the world after: 🌎

    • @dshmechanic
      @dshmechanic Před 2 lety +5

      Well...I know this is rather small solace, but, on the bright side, we DO still have great photographs of all the destroyed works. Of course, nothing beats an original, but it's something, however small.

    • @mrfrenzy.
      @mrfrenzy. Před 2 lety +1

      What makes you think all of the paintings were burned? Obviously she would have hid away some of them to retrieve later.

    • @tomr6955
      @tomr6955 Před 2 lety +3

      I'm telling you, you DO care about the value of them. There are millions of other old paintings so you clearly only care about these because they're valuable.

    • @sergetheijspartner2005
      @sergetheijspartner2005 Před 2 lety +3

      @@tomr6955 but why are they valuable, it is not like the canvas, the wood frames, the paints or the oils where expensive materials on the contrary...It is their link to history that make them expensive, imagine we had pictures or videos of those times, then maybe they would not be as valuable as they are now, it's because we do not have any videos or pictures from those Era's that these paintings become more valuable, it's like our only link to those times depicting life, clothing, foods, themes etc.... (Off course I am not talking about abstract art). The value however is abstract aswell, you can't put a real nr on it, people tried and gave them a monetary value but actually they are priceless. It is like I said, I have pictures of my great grandparents, grandparents, pics and vids of my parents and my brother or even my son being born and growing up, imagine them burning up in a housefire? all those memories, all those times, gone forever, like tears in the rain (yeah I stole that line from Bladerunner but it's a good analogy)

  • @yeshrunprakashminz
    @yeshrunprakashminz Před 5 měsíci +1

    15:48 lol love the Easter egg of your past videos, instantly recognised that picture is frm the greatest prison escape with miso soup video

  • @major_trollum
    @major_trollum Před rokem

    my god..! what a magNIFICENT painting in that oval frame at 9:10 ! now THAT is art!

  • @coreylong4855
    @coreylong4855 Před 2 lety +31

    i love that you put a portrait of yourself with all the portraits he stole. That was a good one

  • @equable1181
    @equable1181 Před 2 lety +61

    This is one of my favorite stories I’ve heard so far. Bravo

  • @randymoore4027
    @randymoore4027 Před rokem +5

    “The Maiden Heist” film (2009) has a similar plot whereby “Art” is stolen “out of love…”

  • @vavet314
    @vavet314 Před rokem +4

    Stories like this need to be movies or a short film

    • @willwrite3675
      @willwrite3675 Před rokem

      Who told you there are no movies

    • @vavet314
      @vavet314 Před rokem

      Well point me to the movie or short film sir

  • @12Ger13
    @12Ger13 Před 2 lety +13

    That ending was painful, all those beautiful paintings sent to oblivion (only few people in the world had the chance to watch them live).

  • @honestlydontcareduh885
    @honestlydontcareduh885 Před 2 lety +21

    I'm not a huge fan of art but to destroy it all like that is absolutely crazy.

  • @mrequi1
    @mrequi1 Před 2 lety

    Great story. And great presentation.

  • @alvarezz09
    @alvarezz09 Před rokem

    your voice for telling stories is impeccable

  • @lukegehring5305
    @lukegehring5305 Před 2 lety +71

    Fascinating, disgusting and depressing all at the same time.

    • @Adama.1
      @Adama.1 Před 2 lety +2

      disgusting?

    • @ltdan6466
      @ltdan6466 Před 2 lety +1

      depressing?

    • @Adama.1
      @Adama.1 Před 2 lety +4

      @@ltdan6466 I can see depressing, the part about all the art being burned. But nothing in this video can be considered disgusting

    • @shonsenjaime177
      @shonsenjaime177 Před 2 lety

      @Maksym yes

  • @mohammadaminrajabi1828
    @mohammadaminrajabi1828 Před 2 lety +82

    Omg. The moment he said "they just let the greatest art thievf in history get away" I jump out of my seat. Great way to start the video. So exciting.

  • @sibtainhaider2411
    @sibtainhaider2411 Před 2 lety +3

    Moral of the story, art is priceless.
    Those who can't pay, may just Take it.

  • @jimmyzhao2673
    @jimmyzhao2673 Před 2 lety +1

    He should have just got one of those HD tv's that you hang on the wall and it cycles through artwork.

  • @KiingDa3rd
    @KiingDa3rd Před 2 lety +41

    Honestly, big thumbs up for your editing. Great work. Nobody mentions it, so I will.

  • @yugenheorte6828
    @yugenheorte6828 Před 2 lety +12

    21:37 for a second I expected to hear "when they searched his prison cell they found countless priceless works of stolen art xD"

  • @djlee3276
    @djlee3276 Před 2 lety +1

    16:37, loved the last question!!!!! PROMISES NOT TO DO IT AGAIN? Yes

  • @NotJustDarth8074
    @NotJustDarth8074 Před rokem +1

    Dude just said yea I'ma take this real quick.

  • @shannonhensley2942
    @shannonhensley2942 Před 2 lety +77

    My heart breaks that his mom threw art in a river and burned the rest makes me so sad. Were there not any options? Could she have not taken to the woods and buried them. Or idk thrown a tarp over them.

    • @tebmc3466
      @tebmc3466 Před 2 lety +1

      U really belive that lol

    • @ErieRosewood
      @ErieRosewood Před 2 lety +11

      yeah, I was hoping he'd say she took them to a storage unit. hearing she destroyed them, tat hurt my soul

    • @jamesbizs
      @jamesbizs Před 2 lety +4

      Ah yes lol. Bury paintings. That will keep them safe 😂

  • @y.r.p4017
    @y.r.p4017 Před 2 lety +33

    The release of a new Thoughty 2 video is the most Anticipated & Exciting Notification i recieve. Thanks for the dedication and passion that goes into each video.
    ( Love how the sponsors are inserted in some videos you can't help but laugh at the timing & lead up ) Hope that you keep making videos until the golden years

    • @Automat1cJack
      @Automat1cJack Před 2 lety +1

      Thoughty2 does a great job of transitioning into sponsored ads. Sometimes you don't even know he's launching into them

  • @GOKHANMERSINLIOGLU
    @GOKHANMERSINLIOGLU Před 2 lety

    9:13 the Sixt art (painting) on the third row is priceless.

  • @przemysawpajak4627
    @przemysawpajak4627 Před 2 lety

    Epic strory and epic storytelling :D

  • @controllerbrothers1230
    @controllerbrothers1230 Před 2 lety +10

    Your videos are getting more and more addicting fr

  • @daemonthorn5888
    @daemonthorn5888 Před 2 lety +344

    OMFG!!!! I can't believe she burned all of that priceless art! Just to save her idiot son from going to jail. That is an absolute tragedy. It makes me sick to my stomach.

    • @SpacePonder
      @SpacePonder Před 2 lety +5

      Yes it was unesseesery

    • @omggom2488
      @omggom2488 Před 2 lety +14

      What's makes it even worse is the fact that her son only got 3 years in prison for that which imo is way too low and not that much in general

    • @waribra599
      @waribra599 Před 2 lety +13

      China can make new ones

    • @davendrasingh3260
      @davendrasingh3260 Před 2 lety +30

      thats the greatest mom ever on the plannet. are u nuts

    • @azardean685
      @azardean685 Před 2 lety

      @@waribra599 made what went wong

  • @vanesslifeygo
    @vanesslifeygo Před rokem +2

    Ah, so that's why security cameras are now shielded by glass.

  • @beezowdoo-doozopittybop-bo8045

    What a genuine madlad

  • @taitano12
    @taitano12 Před 2 lety +15

    I've heard this story before. It's a good one. In the other version I heard, he'd started bawling when they told him about the ones his momma burned. The others could be restored, but those are lost forever.

    • @glenns5627
      @glenns5627 Před 2 lety +2

      Probably just like the partners/parents/victims of alcoholics dumping their found booze... "He'll never see THIS crap again!"

    • @slamyourheadin9449
      @slamyourheadin9449 Před 2 lety +10

      @@glenns5627 it ain’t “crap” it’s art that is hundreds of years old and holds a lot of history. You really comparing priceless art to alcohol?

    • @justin01144
      @justin01144 Před 2 lety +2

      @@slamyourheadin9449 come on.. use common sense.. he's making a metaphor. He saying that was his addiction as alcohol is to someone and it similarly hurt him to know they were destroyed as it would a alcoholic to know their alcohol was flushed.

    • @tomr6955
      @tomr6955 Před 2 lety

      @@justin01144 the metaphor doesn't hold up because she is clearly helping him by getting rid of the paintings, rather than him learning his lesson..
      Even though it didn't work out

  • @frozemoments39
    @frozemoments39 Před 2 lety +42

    I spent 2 years in Lucern, Zug, Interlaken and Chomonixue France. Lucern is a very laid back place. Stefano, as I use to call him , hung out with me and my Swiss miss in little Immense, Switzerland for 3 weeks in 2002. Most people knew him as Lucky. Idk why.🤔. I’ve been watched here in Tennessee multiple times but live a normal life. True Story.

  • @Pumpkingirl1228
    @Pumpkingirl1228 Před 7 měsíci

    There’s a great book about this called The Art Thief by Michael Finley. It has input from Breitweiser himself along with other key people involved with the case. It clarifies a lot of the repeating questions in these comments and corrects a couple of things, like the fact that he didn’t forget the gloves on his last theft, he chose not to wear them

  • @susim4503
    @susim4503 Před 2 lety +147

    The sheer selfishness of this entire story takes my breath away. An art lover who disregards all the other art lovers and the mother willing to destroy irreplacable art. They were not just stealing from the owners or galleries, they stole the experience of seeing that art from us all. This guy didn't have big balls, he lacked the empathy to understand the enormity of what he was doing.

    • @vox_5747
      @vox_5747 Před 2 lety +28

      nah dudes balls were massive, this is the coolest theft story ive seen in ages

    • @ZenanWigton
      @ZenanWigton Před 2 lety +1

      The mothers evil, but the guys a legend. The world sucks and people are monsters, who cares if others get to enjoy things??? Man's just wanted HIS art. He stole it fair and square with his massive Cojones! You wanna enjoy art go make or take your own chief 😅

    • @sejfeti
      @sejfeti Před 2 lety

      He’s balls are as huge as they get. No one cares about them weird paintings. Good on him.

    • @vox_5747
      @vox_5747 Před rokem

      @You'll never know me because this is the internet you'll never know mwahahahaha

    • @hoperules8874
      @hoperules8874 Před rokem +2

      sociopathy would also explain his "very cool under pressure" part, as well

  • @Kazooples
    @Kazooples Před 2 lety +34

    This makes me so sad, he was completely devastated by the loss of the artwork, I don’t blame him.

    • @synchronicity-thelanguageo3991
      @synchronicity-thelanguageo3991 Před rokem

      Allegedly all burnt...you're assuming that this story is at the ending. Don't be surprised if the mother isn't on in 'keeping the artwork' by pretending to be a crazy loon burning it all. I suspect, this was a coy to trick authorities I mean the making the fire obvious is a little odd. She burnt it all so she could say, 'I burnt all the painting'. You see, something doesn't add up it is almost like she wanted them to think that. I would just burn some of the crappier art pieces, cheaper ones. Then I would get some paint, and splash some paint on bits of paper and throw them in a big fire...lol

  • @effingsix3825
    @effingsix3825 Před 2 lety +4

    The problem here is economic. Subsistence wages(or not even) for the underclass, waiters, security guards, nurses, perhaps even police.

  • @heinverwey7620
    @heinverwey7620 Před rokem

    Amazing story !!

  • @thejakefromstatefarm6768

    Blue geezer playing guitar is one of the finest pieces of art ever created.

  • @trey-vaughnperez1800
    @trey-vaughnperez1800 Před 2 lety +12

    Oh this man gonna hate NFT’s

  • @rgu3t0
    @rgu3t0 Před 2 lety +5

    8:41 “Be back in 10 hun, gonna run down to the corner museum and pick up another painting! Need me to get you anything?!”

  • @DWCStuff
    @DWCStuff Před rokem +1

    That hurts me so bad that all those pains were burned and or ruined

  • @colsmith7257
    @colsmith7257 Před rokem

    What a beautiful story, true love

  • @Mluera
    @Mluera Před 2 lety +6

    People plan art heists for years with a handful of people and this guy just strolls in and picks it up and leaves

  • @MrDavenez
    @MrDavenez Před 2 lety +3

    I love your stories, you really know how to tell an interesting story 😊

  • @p-slick9956
    @p-slick9956 Před rokem

    I love the step brothers reference; boats and ho’s 😂 had me cracking up

  • @michaelwayne7887
    @michaelwayne7887 Před 2 lety

    00:45 You get extra extra credit for representing the late 70s Ford/Mercury style sedan in all its grotesque, landau topped splendor!! It looks like a car you'd see in the background of scenes from Kojak....

  • @nikkapubess3349
    @nikkapubess3349 Před 2 lety +75

    The artists who painted those paintings would be proud of Stefan. Not having a dime to their name, but yet they love art enough to cherish it, just like the painters who painted these masterpieces.

    • @allanshpeley4284
      @allanshpeley4284 Před 2 lety +8

      Reeeally? The artists would not only have condoned billions in art theft, but would have wanted their prized works to only be appreciated by a single criminal rather than thousands of innocent people. Sure bud.

    • @susanivy3619
      @susanivy3619 Před 2 lety +2

      lol are you trolling? You think they'd be proud of his utter selfishness (not even speaking of his thievery)? Taking art, no, stealing art out of museums that are meant for the public's consumption, to enjoy and experience?
      Yeah, I'm sure they'd rather have their paintings in a small attic for the pleasure of two, rather than in a museum for the pleasure of the masses. You do realize.... the art THIEF Stefan was not the only person to cherish those paintings, many others did so as well. However, the sociopathic crook only cared about his own feelings and pleasure, as if he was the center of the universe and the only one in it (thanks Stefan's mom). Wow, whatta guy.
      * Come on "Nikka Pubess", fess up, is this you Stefan?

    • @allanshpeley4284
      @allanshpeley4284 Před 2 lety +3

      @@susanivy3619 Lol, maybe he is Stefan. You know the worst thing - all the likes he's received on this comment. We share the world with a bunch of people who agree with his statement.

    • @bigsucculentmango
      @bigsucculentmango Před 2 lety +5

      @@allanshpeley4284 "prized works". I'd like to think most of those artist weren't thinking they were making prized works but making art that spoke to them personally not to a bunch of random people. They aren't massively egotistical like you say, are they?

    • @christophersmith8316
      @christophersmith8316 Před 2 lety +2

      @@allanshpeley4284 nobody paid them any billions while they were alive.

  • @akg_table
    @akg_table Před 2 lety +9

    "huh, theres this same guy in all 58 locations that had a painting stolen the same day is appearing on the security footages. no biggie"

  • @Kurumisama
    @Kurumisama Před rokem

    that part at the end, that's a man dedicated to its art

  • @BostonJon420
    @BostonJon420 Před 2 lety +13

    Moral of the story never tell the police anything even when they seem to hold all the cards.

  • @T.v.d.V
    @T.v.d.V Před 2 lety +24

    Absolutely beautifull life. So beautifull to have that view at home. Funny problem that gets bigger and bigger.

  • @timestories7836
    @timestories7836 Před rokem

    That was a great vid mate

  • @richardd9349
    @richardd9349 Před rokem

    With a title like that, I immediately think of the Lockpicking Lawyer vids of him disabling so many locks in seconds.

  • @jonathanmoody8757
    @jonathanmoody8757 Před 2 lety +7

    "This Man Stole $1.5 Billion Worth of Art With a Screwdriver"
    - Original Title

  • @dk-bw4gk
    @dk-bw4gk Před 2 lety +9

    I'm glad Yoshi Shiratori finally got the recognition he deserves.

  • @aaronawoodard
    @aaronawoodard Před rokem

    I haven't heard what he did with them yet but I hope it is paint over them... if only as a throwback to how it used to be common practice.

  • @shuckieddarns
    @shuckieddarns Před 2 lety

    when he asked if we like the content but literally can't be bothered to use our eyes, I felt that

  • @RobertCannesRobert
    @RobertCannesRobert Před 2 lety +6

    "balls of legend" and "blue geezer playing quitar" cracked me up good xD

  • @MustangWriter
    @MustangWriter Před 2 lety +62

    This was a sad story to those of us who also love art.

    • @inyrui
      @inyrui Před 2 lety +7

      yeah that mom is a real bitch lol. i'm sure if the guy really appreciated the art he wouldn't have wanted it destroyed and would have had a contingency plan for this, probably one that didn't involve a river. maybe the mom didn't know the value or just valued her son more, who knows. still a fucked thing to do to try to save someone who is so clearly guilty

    • @TheDramacist
      @TheDramacist Před 2 lety +2

      Devastating

    • @aldavedario4818
      @aldavedario4818 Před 2 lety +2

      @@inyrui dude was lucky. me mum would've sold me out and gave me a huge slap in the face after my dad clapped me with a stick lol

    • @z3al0t
      @z3al0t Před 2 lety

      Or money

  • @clintelkins9630
    @clintelkins9630 Před 2 lety +1

    This dudes mom is a freaking legend

  • @earbjr4715
    @earbjr4715 Před rokem

    I like your style and choice of subjects.