Chapter 18

Summary

• Breitwieser and Anne-Catherine are aware that the police are trying to find them due to local news reports.
• Breitwieser intentionally leaves painting frames in conspicuous places in museums as a taunt to authorities, calling it his "calling card".
• Police tend to assume that stolen artwork ends up being sold on the black market, ransomed back to their owners, or used as currency in criminal dealings.
• Law enforcement tries to break up these illegal activities by identifying and infiltrating the transactions of stolen art.
• Art crime units focus on recovering the stolen artwork, even more than arresting the criminals involved.
• Despite the difficulties and risks, some law enforcement agents go undercover to get closer to the criminal organizations involved in art theft.
• It's rare for a thief to simply keep stolen art for personal enjoyment, as the financial value of such items is usually their primary attraction for criminals.
• Breitwieser believes he can allude authorities by stealing in a random, unpredictable pattern.