Art Theft Expert Anthony Amore on His Friendship with Notorious Thief Myles Connor

The Unlikely Friendship

• 🤝 Anthony Amore, author of "The Rembrandt Heist," describes an instant friendship with art thief Myles Connor, which has lasted for years.
• 💡 Amore, director of security at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, was initially hesitant to meet Connor, given his background as an art thief and Amore's role as an investigator.
• 🧠 Inspired by the investigative methods of John Douglas in "Mind Hunter," Amore decided to interview art thieves to understand their mindset, leading to his eventual meeting with Connor.

Myles Connor's Criminal Career

• 🎸 Myles Connor, son of a policeman, was an up-and-coming rock and roller in Boston with a talent for stealing art.
• ⚖️ He had a history of being in and out of trouble, often managing to avoid serious prison time.
• 🖼️ Connor's father arranged a meeting with a state police major, who suggested that stealing a Rembrandt painting was the only way Connor could reduce his sentence.

The Rembrandt Heist Ruse

• 🎨 Connor planned and executed a significant ruse to steal a Rembrandt from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
• 🤝 This theft served as a bargaining chip to negotiate a reduced sentence for his impending legal troubles.
• 📖 Amore's book, "The Rembrandt Heist," details the story of this theft and the eventual returning of the masterpiece.