Gardner Art Heist, They Are Finally Coming Home, Vermeer and co on Silver Bird to Boston !!

Ted Kennedy to attend Stormont

The dashing US senator, Ted Kennedy, lifelong friend and admirer of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, will be part of a delegation present in Northern Ireland on Tuesday for the opening of the new government.

The Massachusetts representative will join US special envoy, Paula Dobriansky, for the visit to the devolved Assembly at Stormont, near Belfast.

Senator Kennedy has been a staunch supporter of the peace process, which has resulted in the Rev Ian Paisley`s Democratic Unionists agreeing to share power with Sinn Fein.


Senator Kennedy said: "I am honoured that President Bush has invited me to participate in the US delegation to Northern Ireland for the historic opening of the new government.

"A new day has dawned for the people of Northern Ireland.

"Northern Ireland has shown the world that peace is possible even in the face of tragic history and it offers hope for peaceful reconciliation in other troubled areas of the world."

British and Irish premiers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern will be among VIPs at Tuesday`s ceremony inaugurating the new administration.

Ministers in the ten departments will be officially unveiled during the first session of the fully functioning assembly.

Democrat Senator Kennedy has been prominent in the Irish-American lobby within congress.

He is the founder of the Congressional Friends Of Ireland group and is part of the Kennedy dynasty which has dominated Irish-American politics for decades.

Art Hostage comments:

During the festivities, when the realisation of power sharing as well as a good vintage wine, has intoxicated Senior Irish Republicans, Senator Kennedy will strike,

Senator Kennedy will ask for the stolen art from the Gardner Museum to be given back via the Irish Republican movement, without any blame attributed to the Irish Republican movement.

Such will be the affect of this request within the haze of celebration, before Senator Kennedy returns to the United States, the Vermeer and co will surface via a confession box, symbolism of absolution, and Senator Kennedy will return to Boston with the Vermeer as a dividend of absolute peace and democracy in the Northern part of Ireland.

The dividend of five years lobbying for Senator Kennedy's intersession will bear fruit.

Harry Potter Magic Brings Stolen Book Home to Alnwick !!

Happy ending for stolen rare book

By JAMES WILLOUGHBYN

A RARE book, worth more than £2,000, stolen five years ago from an Alnwick bookshop has been returned home – all the way from America.

George Adams Senior’s 1746 title – Micrographia Illustrata, First Edition – was swiped from Barter Books in 2002 and later taken across the Atlantic to an Alabama antiques store.
But, the store’s owner Axel Hein became suspicious of the Barter Books bandit as he was looking “shifty and changing his story a lot”.

Mr Hein looked on the Antiquarian Booksellers Association website, which notifies browsers of stolen books, and matched the description of the lost book to the one he had seen in his store.
Barter Books had described the book as: “Edges soiled. In need restoration. First four plates are loose and damaged.” Mr Hein subsequently alerted Interpol, the international police organisation.

Barter Books owner Stuart Manley said: “The condition of the book and the way the man acted led Axel to believe that it was our book. He alerted Interpol who then contacted Northumbria Police. Then in June last year, we received a call from the police telling us they had found it.”
The book, which, if in mint condition can fetch up to around £11,000, is one of the earliest books on microscopes and there are only about half a dozen in the world.
Barter Books had placed the title under the “very special books” category in their appeal for its return.

Because of this, Micrographia – along with other titles – was kept in a glass case in the shop.
Stuart said: “There was no damage to the case so he must have distracted a shop assistant and taken the book. The price of the book was £2,200. We didn’t know straight away and we thought it had gone forever at that point. We registered it on the website but we heard nothing for four years.

“To get the book back was an unexpected surprise because we didn’t expect to see it again. It has been all the way to Alabama and back.”
The thief, Paul William Powell, 60, from the Trimdon area of County Durham, subsequently served a year’s probation. Stuart added: “We have already thanked Axel and we are going to send him a $200 cheque – and a copy of the Gazette when it comes out!”

Last Updated: 03 May 2007

Art Hostage comments:

Cannot believe the Harry Potter connection was not made for this good news story.

As Alnwick Castle, the masterpiece of the Northumberland English town of Alnwick, and is the scene of many of Harry Potter's exploits, filmed at the castle, I am sure some of the Harry Potter magic has contributed to this wonderful turn of events and Young Potter's magic must be given credit.

New Comment about truth behind stolen Alnwick book recovery

Well my dear friends I appreciate being linked to Harry Potter. Now the truth about the return of the book.

Interpol had very little to do with the recovery of the book.

The FBI and US Customs are responsible. Mr Powell was not convicted on the book because no one from the UK side would identify the book and testify for the US gov.

Mr Powell was convicted in the US for smuggling ivory and other items. For this he received 2yrs probation in the US.

The thief Paul William Powell has many more items, books , paintings jewelry in the US; but US authorities can not get the co-operation of UK authorities .

There are probably many more items that were owned by UK citizens but they will never be returned due to the lack of co-operation of UK authorities.

I have never received a thank you from the bookshop. Currently Mr. Powell has filed suit against me in a US court for 3000.00 USD.

I am still in possession of some of the property he brought to this country which are probably also stolen.

But I will not do the research to find the rightful owners.

Alnwck Book shop Has never thanked me in anyway.

Not that it matters ,I would have done that for anyone.But due to the expenses ,I can not continue to spend the time to find the rightful owners of the paintings,art objects and jewelry.brought to America by Mr. Powells little international enterprise.

Food for thought !!

Latest comment throws new light on this Powell chap


Thank you Mr. Manley of Barter Books.

He did as he said he would he did thank me and sent the 200.00 cheque. It is appreciated.I apologize for getting ahead of him.

He is a man of his word and honorable.A large part of the credit for the return of the book also goes to Special Agent Cary Straub of the FBI and Senior Agent James .

Also I was informed today, by another antique dealer that Mr. Powell is back in business trying to import items back into the US. He is currently seeking another patsy in the US.

So dear friends in the UK watch youre belongings and merchandise Powell is on the prowl again!!!

Harry Potter Diamond Encrusted Sword Saved as Scotland Yard Art Crime Team go for Begging Bowl Policing !!

Met's art theft squad has to go cap in hand

· Budget cut leads to vain quest for private backers
· Specialist Art Crime unit accorded 'very low priority'

Sandra Laville , crime correspondent
Saturday April 21, 2007

The Guardian

The dramatic scaling down of Scotland Yard's once renowned arts and antique squad has left organised criminals free to plunder the nation's heritage, according to a leading fine art insurer.
Police have sought private money to finance the squad after its annual budget of some £300,000 was halved earlier this year. But the Guardian has learned that Scotland Yard has failed to secure a penny from insurers or auction houses, after months of discussions.

Britain's art market is second only to the US and experts claim up to £200m worth of stolen art and antiques are sold in the UK each year. Interpol estimates that art theft is the fourth largest organised crime after drugs, people trafficking and arms.
Annabel Fell-Clark, chief executive of Axa Art UK, which pays out tens of millions of pounds a year to reimburse victims of art theft, condemned the slashing of the unit's budget. She warned that scaling down the unit was already having an impact on pursuing art thieves who target Britain's stately homes and museums.

"We have seen that they [the team] are increasingly overstretched and being treated as a very low priority. At the moment we have very good information which we are wanting to pass on, which would bring arrests, if not convictions. But we are not being treated particularly seriously, let's put it that way.

"We want to see criminal gangs brought to justice, and in some instances lack of interest from the squad has stopped us being able to pursue further recovery. We want and need to work with the police."

She said Axa was aware the government was seeking funding for the squad but the company had decided it would not consider paying directly for the unit, adding that attempts by the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police to find private sponsors in the art world were shortsighted.

"It would be a conflict of interest for us to get involved," she said. "We have slightly different agendas. As insurers, we are interested in recovering the pieces however we can, and are not that bothered about finding and prosecuting the perpetrators. We are concerned that this aspect of law enforcement is not taken particularly seriously right now.

"Very often when you are investigating art theft connections are uncovered with organised crime in relation to drugs and arms dealing, so it doesn't make sense to ignore this aspect of criminal activity."

The London based "arts squad" was formed in 1969 to pursue and prosecute criminals who operate in the second biggest art market in the world. In the past the unit, which is called in to investigate 120 cases a year, was involved in recovery of art works across the world.

According to art crime sources, officers from the squad worked with Spanish investigators to help crack one of Europe's most spectacular art robberies - the theft of 19 paintings valued at £30m from the Madrid penthouse of Esther Koplowitz, Marquesa of Casa Penalver and Cardenas.

Other successes include the uncovering of a multimillion pound British smuggling operation in which precious antiquities and archaeological artefacts were stolen from Egypt, some of which were sold at Sotheby's.

Last year the unit arrested a gang allegedly responsible for stealing tens of millions of pounds of art and antiques from stately homes over four years, including £30m worth of antiques from Ramsbury Manor in Wiltshire.

Mark Dodgson, of the British Antique Dealers Association, said: "The idea of people in the art world funding the squad seems wrong. My members pay taxes already, and surely paying for the police is what their taxes are for."

Scotland Yard confirmed that as yet no private investors had been identified to provide the 50% funding required for the unit by the next financial year.

Alnwick Castle, scene of the failed plot to steal the "Harry Potter Diamond Encrusted Sword"

Art Hostage comments:

One of the last pieces of information given by Art Hostage to Law Enforcement via the Art Insurance industry, a year ago, resulted in preventing a valuable iconic work of art being stolen from the Home of Harry Potter, Alnwick castle, country seat of the fabulously wealthy art collector, the Duke of Northumberland.

Art Hostage learnt from the underworld that Alnwick castle, on the borders of England and Scotland, and where many scenes from Harry Potter have been filmed, was being targeted because it contains a Diamond encrusted Sword, housed in a glass case, in an easy location to smash and grab.





The Drawing Room at Alnwick Castle, below, contains the Harry Potter Diamond Encrusted Sword in a flimsy glass case, below the small painting, black gilded frame, to the left of the fireplace.

Hopefully the new home for the Harry Potter Diamond Encrusted Sword will be more secure, in a tamper proof special casing.


The value of this Diamond encrusted Sword is up to $1 million dollars.

Law Enforcement duly informed the Duke of Northumberland his Diamond Encrusted Sword was at risk and his Grace took the sensible precaution of moving it away from the public gaze, to a more secure location.


Subsequently, known high value art thieves were observed at Alnwick Castle acting suspiciously, after paying for a public tour, then seeing the Diamond Encrusted Sword had been moved from its glass case, the art thieves left Alnwick Castle empty handed, a small Pyrrhic victory.

Sadly, these art thieves have been more successful at other Country mansions.

I hear a round of applause in the background and take my curtain call.

However, Art Hostage has not been given any reward, credit or otherwise.

To add insult to injury, Art Hostage has not been able to reward the underworld contact for his vital information that has saved the "Harry Potter Diamond Encrusted Sword."

However, Art Hostage has, out of his own pocket, rewarded the Underworld contact, who still has vital current and future information to pass on.

It is about time for a summit to be called so that an effective policy can be formulated across the whole panorama of art related crime.

Until then we shall be left Tilting at Windmills, paying lip service when high value art thefts occur, and go round in circles when high value stolen art is recoverable.

World Breaking News, "Rapley of the Yard" Offers to Privately Recover Madonna, With His Own Comfort Letter !! !!

An amazing turn of events, if true, could see the Madonna safely recovered and back on the wall of its Scottish Home.

Detective Vernon Rapley head of Scotland Yard's Art and Antiques Unit has offered to privately recover the Madonna, write himself a Comfort Letter, pay the current handlers £100,000, then once the Madonna of the Yarnwinder by Leonardo DA Vinci, 1501 has been recovered, the newly semi-privatised Scotland Yard Art and Antiques Unit will put in a bill for £1.9 million, as their reward for privately recovering DA Vinci's Madonna.

A new policy of "if you can't beat them, join them" is about the be adopted.

If the powers that be want to see a private Art and Antiques Unit within Scotland Yard, then fine, the private side can make private recoveries without arrests and collect rewards, £2 million in the Madonna case, $5 million in the Gardner Case, etc

The issuing of Comfort Letters is being kept in-house perhaps !! Turner Recovery has left a bad taste in the mouth, perhaps former Detective Superintendent Mick Lawrence and Detective Sergeant JurekRokoszynski (known as Rocky) below, should have used some quiet discretion and not gone public.

Mick, left, the Thief Taker and Rocky, right, Serpico, mixed with Donnie Brasco eat, breath, sleep, and act like Gangsters, true Miltonesque undercover cops.

However, sometimes it is hard to see where the legal line is, often it is far away behind them in a John "Zip" Connolly manner !!

A classic case of the Foxes Guarding the Hen-House, being led like Moths towards the Media flame with promises of Golden Hello's, fame, fortune, and the prospect of becoming a Reality Idol for high value stolen art recovery.

"Art Sleuth Reality Idol"

This is all very well, but counter productive for art loss recoveries in the future as criminals expectations are increased to a level that is regarded as fantasy land by Law Enforcement.

The Turner and Titian recoveries, because they were made public, showed high value stolen art handlers and criminal venture capitalists, millions of dollars/pounds/euros can be paid, have been paid to buy back Stolen Art.

When "Secret deals" are done they need to be kept, Bloody secret, its not Rocket Science !!

The Line Up is Complete, its the Billionaires Club !!

Art Hostage has learnt that Prince Waleed Al-Waleed bin Talal currently has control of some of the Gardner art?

How on earth he came to be in the possession of some of the Gardner Art is something worth investigating.

I wonder if the Gardner Art Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal has is to be bartered for a Green Card, should the need arise?

Word is he is playing a long game and using the Gardner art as a get out of jail free card when Armageddon arrives.

However, the art could still be in the United States waiting the go-ahead to hand back to the Gardner Museum when orders to do so are given.

The whole Gardner Theft will know doubt cause a public scandal when the truth about the inside knowledge comes out.

What is needed is some good old fashioned Government sponsored Nepotism, just this once, an earmark/Pork that really benefits the art-loving American public.

In these dark days of extreme accusations levelled at both the British and American governments, I am sure the public will be able to accept a dose of political nepotism that See's the stolen Gardner Art return to Boston.

The World may be holding its breath for a recovery, quietly will do, just a call to Anthony Amore on Boston 617 278 5114 to tell him which Confession box contains the Gardner art, he will recover it quietly, no fuss, the giver gets his political chip to the Big Table, for a brief moment, the world is just told the Gardner art has been recovered no more details, other than taking down the big Yellow Ribbon draped around the Gardner Museum to depict the sad loss of its precious art, the empty frames is haunting and the stolen pictures need the symbolism of absolution.

The nightmare continues.......................................