Art Crime: Where There is Money, There is Crime

Americas Now

The Mona Lisa by the legendary Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, may be the most famous painting in the world. But did you know that in 1911 the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in Paris by an Italian handyman.

It was recovered when he tried to sell it to an art dealer in Florence Italy. The handyman said he wanted to return the Mona Lisa to her proper country of Italy. Art theft and forgery have been around for centuries and it continues to be a big business today. In fact, there’s been so much forgery taking place and so many thefts, the FBI created a special department dedicated to investigating “those” crimes.

One reason for the increase in art crimes, might be the astronomical sums paintings are selling for these days. As Correspondent Liling Tan found out in New York where there’s money, there’s crime.

Art Crime: Where There is Money, There is Crime

The Mona Lisa by the legendary Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, may be the most famous painting in the world. But did you know that in 1911 the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in Paris by an Italian handyman It was recovered when he tried to sell it to an art dealer in Florence Italy. The handyman said he wanted to return the Mona Lisa to her proper country of Italy. Art theft and forgery have been around for centuries and it continues to be a big business today. In fact, there's been so much forgery taking place and so many thefts, the FBI created a special department dedicated to investigating "those" crimes. One reason for the increase in art crimes, might be the astronomical sums paintings are selling for these days. As Correspondent Liling Tan found out in New York where there's money, there's crime.