20-year anniversary of Gardner museum art heist

BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - It's been 20 years since one of the largest art heists of all time went down in Boston.

Thirteen frames still hang empty in the Dutch room of the museum as a reminder of the precious works of art stolen in the middle of the night on March 18, 1990.

At 1:24 a.m., two men disguised as Boston Police officers walked into the employee entrance on Palace Street and tricked the guards into believing they were responding to an emergency call.

“A short time later they were able to subdue the two guards, chain them up using handcuffs and duct taped them, and put them in the basement. And from that point on, for 81 minutes they had free run of the place,” said Director of Security Anthony Amore.

They stole masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Degas and Manet, worth more than $500 million.

Officials say they are stepping up their efforts to catch the crooks and recover the art.

The FBI is using digital billboards alongside Interstate 93 and Interstate 495 to solicit the public’s help.

They are also hoping a $5 million reward will help jog some memories.

“People die, people make enemies, people get divorced, and it takes someone who is in the position to provide info who gets that kick that maybe they should be contacting somebody,” said Special Agent Geoffrey Kelly.

Amore has been working on the case for the past 4 and a half years and says the museum won’t rest until it gets its art back.

He’s poured over thousands of documents and says new leads are still coming.

“I’m absolutely certain these frames that are on our walls, placeholders for the art, will be filled and Mrs. Gardner’s collection will be made whole,” he said.

He also hopes that whoever is holding this artwork is taking care of it, storing it in a temperature controlled room, ideally 70 degrees, with 50 percent humidity.

To report a tip, call 617-278-5114 or e-mail theft@gardnermuseum.org .