All-Night Art Heist in Italy Suspected to Be ‘Some Sort of Revenge’
On July 28, a group of about 10 people carried out an overnight theft at the headquarters of Italian fuel distributor Lilli Petroli in L’Aquila, Abruzzo, spending up to eight hours inside and stealing roughly 30 artworks valued at more than £4 million ($4.63 million), according to local reporting. The stolen items from owner Mauro Lilli’s collection included bas-reliefs attributed to Pablo Picasso, a bronze ballerina sculpture by Giacomo Manzù, paintings by Bruno d’Arcevia, and works by sculptor Mario Moretto; the pieces were displayed in the company’s lobby and offices and were reportedly uninsured. Police said the thieves used a company truck to smash through the security gate and caused extensive damage to furniture and floors. Art Recovery International founder Christopher Marinello suggested the heist looked like “some sort of revenge” rather than a typical theft-to-order, while authorities including the Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Protection Unit (TPC) are investigating.
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This story was covered in Van Gogh Returns, and the City’s Art Wars