Meet the Man Who Stole $1.4 Billion With a Screwdriver

[@Thoughty2]

Thanks for watching! And thanks to Keeps for sponsoring this video! Go to www.keeps.com/thoughty2 to get 50% off your first order of Keeps hair loss treatment.

[@josephine1468]

twenty hours ago?

[@mr.pantman9742]

Hello

[@reinierweerts6923]

Thanks for making them!

[@regulargamer1948]

Hi

[@joemama-yf7gn]

n o

[@Siegmeyer_]

His mother destroying all that artwork made me want to cry! All that history wiped away

[@Zedryx69]

At least some of them weren't burned up, and never seen again, but instead thrown into the forest where someone could just find it and either steal it for themselves, or be a good citizen.

[@MarlonBitoy]

@Layton Little fun fact: all the historical confederacy statues and plaques come from the 1940s and beyond, funded by former plantation owners and families in an attempt to wipe clean the horrid track records of those people. They realized that most people who remembered that era were dead. In fact, basically no statues honoring the confederacy were built anywhere near to their defeat.

[@akg_table]

It put a grin on my face. Dozens of regular paintings, obsessed over by billionaires, destroyed unceremoniously with water and fire. Oh well, they'll have to pick some other Lionardo or Vun Go painting to overvalue

[@RobertCannesRobert]

@Lotus dude nobody uses faxs anymore

[@inyrui]

i don't care about the art really but it pisses me off that they tried to get him off when he clearly did it lol, also she could have easily just hid them somewhere. his mom seems like an idiot

[@divegabe]

It was deliberate. He advertised hair loss knowing people would be pulling the hair out when they heard the mother destroying them!

[@twobrokeguyz1214]

Haha!! Good one!

[@eddyraye5825]

It's all a plot to sell hair loss medication.

[@rainbowfrogs1387]

That's so good hahaha

[@whatkenyan7684]

of all conspiracy theories I believe in that one because if had really long hair I would have pulled it all out with thumping hands when I heard of the destruction of evidence by the mother. I wish I never watched this video.

[@MilkmanC]

@@whatkenyan7684 I hate those idiots so much. Of course Karen, I mean Mom knew best

[@michaelhirschbuhl1823]

The fact that he stole the art because he just really liked it makes me unexplainably happy 😂

[@sidneyshaw9205]

You think that's funny?

[@michaelhirschbuhl1823]

@@sidneyshaw9205 It’s funny in the sense that he wasn’t motivated by money. It’s just unusual that his only motivation for stealing the art was because he liked it. That makes me chuckle.

[@OneFatLizard]

@@sidneyshaw9205 you're a little bitch lol its just a painting

[@walteroreilly8963]

That is the reason most stolen art owners do it.

[@stevenwesleygrahamrap]

Klepto, I knew a kleptomaniac they rarely have a reason to steal, they just do.

[@grabble7605]

The irony of it all. He stole this art out of appreciation, and he's the reason countless irreplaceable pieces were destroyed forever.

[@flamingiceclone]

His mother is ....He is a kleptomaniac his mom is a freaking psychopath

[@grabble7605]

@@flamingiceclone Say more incorrect things.

[@Vincent_Beers]

@@grabble7605 He's not incorrect. Stephane didn't destroy the art, his mother did. Stephane is a kleptomaniac, his mother is a psychopath. Anyone who actually appreciates the art might have stolen it and tried to hide it, but would not destroy it.

[@grabble7605]

@@Vincent_Beers He is incorrect. Stephane is not a kleptomaniac and his mother is not a psychopath. Stealing things is not the entire criteria of kleptomania and destroying stuff is not any of the criteria of psychopathy.

[@palodoxaliqua5809]

@@grabble7605 Then a individual not "destroying stuff" is also "not any of the criteria" for this individual to be the reason for the destruction of said stuff. Isn't it fun to argue about pointless details of phrasiology with strangers on the internet? It indeed never gets old to see who has the bigger di.. aehm.. stronger argument.

[@wizmanballin8498]

He had the same insatiable desire for art I used to have for lemon twist donuts in high school. How I loved the taste of thee!!

[@WhuDhat]

That sounds good, don't think I've had one before, are they filled? Or topped with lemon icing?

[@wizmanballin8498]

@@WhuDhat It was a lemon glaze. They were so good I would literally cut grass for money to get some of those things..until I got a summer job in my sophomore year. It was smooth sailing ever since.😂👍

[@WhuDhat]

@@wizmanballin8498 haha nice, I'll keep an eye out for them next time I'm at a donut shop or bakery. I've had lemon filled donuts before and always liked them, kind of rare to find though.

[@vibaj16]

so you're saying you stole 1.4 billion dollars worth of lemon twist donuts?

[@wizmanballin8498]

@@vibaj16 You need life lessons....🤔

[@Aegishand]

This is one of the most fascinating stories I've heard on your channel, absolutely breathtaking.

[@AmstradExin]

What fascinated me the most is how they got to the USA, including the guard who had time to get into a USA police uniform (:

[@MrClintM]

The lack of security generally required for millions of people to be able to see works of art and not have anything stolen is proof that most of us humans are to be trusted. It just takes that one person who can cause more harm than millions of others and we all are punished with the expenses of security, locking things up and taking away the warmth of a community.

[@prepperjonpnw6482]

It doesn’t probe that we are to be trusted lol. It proves that most people are afraid of getting caught lol

[@RyleeStrange]

it actually proves a lot of things, which proves nothing it means: a.) some people are to be trusted b.) some don't want to be caught c.) some don't care enough about to object to steal it, but given the same chance with a more appetizing object to steal... my list could go on.

[@someuser6747]

Same as in Airports, its called "security theater", kind like marketing, trying to show the customer value where there is none, or in that case security where ther is none. I had pcoket knifes in my backpack without me knowing several times and used the "wrong" elevator at an airport that just transported me to the next level, skipping customs. The biggest enemy of actual security is a low budget and lazy guards and managers

[@dewokbabys3140]

@@someuser6747 that is simply implausible. A liar you must be.

[@ShawnJonesHellion]

I was always the best person in the room untill I was shown differently. I felt like I was judging people a little bit incorrectly after the unseen forces in the world gave me a history lesson.

[@TheFrozenBanana]

How is this not a movie?! Such a good arc, excitement and tragedy. I'd watch it.

[@daemonbane1]

Mans still confirmed stealing as of 2019 so I think we have a few more years before his story has enough of an ending for that movie to work.

[@dwalters98]

The ironic part is if the mother had just hid the artwork in some way instead of trying to destroy and dispose of it the way she had, it could of possibly gone WAY different for him.

[@LRM12o8]

If her flat and the attic her son lived in were different units, then she could just have hidden the artworks in her flat or the basement, since the police only got a search warrant for her son's flat...

[@DubultaisT]

That is not how woman mind think. They are irrational beings not capable of thinking few moves ahead. 😭

[@bendystudios7798]

This man is the most non evil criminal that I have ever seen. It’s surprising that he just kept the artwork around the house as a token of his love for art. I respect that.

[@mozziegang]

and then proceeded to have it all get destroyed. yeah pssh right respect.

[@dshmechanic]

@@mozziegang Not according to the video, if you watched it through until the end. He had no idea what his mother was doing to the priceless pieces as he languished in police custody. I'm thinking when he finally found out his mother destroyed them, he was a wee bit pissed.

[@mozziegang]

@@dshmechanic lol ok the judicial system can hold him responsible for the destruction too. its his fault that he put the art pieces in a position where they could be so easily destroyed, now some people here in the comments are legit putting him on a pedestal.

[@joesmoe2245]

Yeah then his mother burned and destroyed the rest. How lovely was that appreciation 😅

[@mozziegang]

@@issadraco532 chill mam this is just a comment 😅

[@jackdurden466]

I am actually feeling a physical sick reaction to the mothers burning of such art. It’s happened long ago many times when rulers during the medieval period and earlier would in war destroy entire libraries and any museum just to erase history of the invaded lands. And so much, if not all, were single prints without any other copies and all lost to fires. An enormous amount of history gone up in smoke.

[@bczarrockbeast6264]

It's still happening they don't even need fire now just a couple clicks an boom its gone.

[@pebblepod30]

IKr, me too. I was expecting they would not be harmed. Her son would not have wanted them harmed.

[@montanateri6889]

Makes my breath short... my skin crawls... OMG.... irreplaceable!

[@mobilemcsmarty1466]

yeah, a city lady at that age should have known the value to the world when going to destroy such irreplaceable history. I know she wanted to protect her son. that's what moms will and should do. for all that effort, she and the girlfriend could have cooperated to find some other nice anonymous attic or garage to store the loot. if not for the mom's poor effort at destruction, the kid would be out easy again. in adding just one more step to find alternate storage, the art would be saved and the kid also out. he was still doomed because he couldn't bring himself to stop. important lessons here- 1. don't steal art. 2. moderate your bad habits 3. don't talk to cops 😎

[@MightyDrunken]

My dad told me the story of one of his uncles. He was a linguist who knew 10+ languages and worked for the MOD as a translator. During the war he helped Jews escape from Nazi Germany. He had an extensive library of many rare books. When he died, his wife burnt all the books. ;{

[@raconte-moialice9509]

You’re an excellent narrator, I felt like I was there 😁

[@Miswak.]

Me too! I was the officer in the background at 19:17

[@kayasper6081]

I felt you watched over my shoulder while I stole the paintings

[@giormr_heks]

Anyone else noticed an interesting painting at 9:12? The sixth in the third row.

[@bobbiusshadow6985]

Of course edit: But did you notice the little Easter eggs, such as the "miso soup escape artist" in one of the paintings

[@giormr_heks]

@@bobbiusshadow6985 I didn't notice it, good eye

[@PMA65537]

ratio of circumference to diameter

[@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164]

That's THE Moustache by Renoir.

[@Jaker2123]

Hahahaaaa yep

[@ivanstayner8818]

People never expect the simple and easiest ways to do something. They think something like stealing art is going to take months of planning, and a team of people. So when you do the EXACT opposite of that. People will never assume it would ever happen.

[@ShawnJonesHellion]

when one pass security everything they are looking for is right in front of their face. - The story of the boy who stole (valueable) wagons filled with useless dirt from the castle

[@notallowed337]

It all depends on the situation. Some require months even years of planning while another job that has a similar result only requires a screwdriver level of planning and effort.

[@courier6960]

A lot of security is mainly theater, it’s there to prevent people from thinking that they can steal something, not to actually prevent theft. This is effectively border security and the TSA to a tee.

[@repatch43]

If you just want to stare at the piece in the privacy of your own home, yes. If you want to fence the piece and get cash out of your effort? I does takes months of planning, and certainly a team of fences to make it happen, unless you want to get caught.

[@dragonateminer1112]

Thus, Occam's razor

[@yeshrunprakashminz]

15:48 lol love the Easter egg of your past videos, instantly recognised that picture is frm the greatest prison escape with miso soup video

[@Octave_Rolland]

There's a moral in there, in the way his obsessive love for these art pieces led to their destruction.

[@jefffarris3359]

So true. That's usually what happens with obsessing over something.

[@Nobody-11B]

Rod serling would have been proud of the story...

[@leeking6939]

Like a moth to a flame

[@SlapstickGenius23]

@@leeking6939 but moths are nocturnal and follow the moon instead of a flame.

[@leeking6939]

@@SlapstickGenius23 nope moths are drawn to fire. They can't help themselves. That's why they enter it and die. If you have been to a camp you will understand

[@jackbriar8947]

I love how he put a picture of cartoon Yoshie Shiratori holding the bowl of miso from the previous video as a painting in the museum at 15:48

[@zarashah]

Smart to catch that little detail

[@shuruff904]

Thoughty2..... I know you'll never see this, but your videos are some if the greatest on KZbin. I know that you know this, but you have many fans and we all love you and your work. Greetings from Jacksonville, Fl.!!!!!

[@Theineluctable_SOME_CANT]

"And, like all good stories, this one starts with cheese." Obviously a Wallace and Grommet fan.

[@bczarrockbeast6264]

Oh I thought you were quoting hunter biden. Lol

[@peterroberts4415]

@@bczarrockbeast6264 Lets just say this guy wouldn't be stealing Hunter's paintings, unlike his Chinese buddies

[@Foolish188]

I forgot about Wallace and Grommit, thought it was a reference to Mr. Sensible. Lol

[@harrycollins3248]

@@bczarrockbeast6264 I don't get the connection?

[@smelliotshamlington567]

Wallace is my idol.

[@josephine1468]

who will win? A security team/system and a police force or Handy Manny

[@josephine1468]

please stop replying with crappy foreign spirituality channel spam

[@simmonedavis98]

Handy Manny, of course! Why is this even a question? Lmao

[@Sunny-ff8xi]

Handy manny!

[@MrBelles104]

Security team. He only had the guts to steal from small museums with barley any security.

[@moon_wei]

Can we fix it? No Bob just sign the divorce papers

[@Krullmatic]

What a great story! Damn, I can't believe his mom destroyed them! Surely she could've found someplace to hide them. Was they ever able to fix any of the paintings that were damaged?

[@synchronicity-thelanguageo3991]

Nope, because they were all completely burnt to ashes, which then brings up a question. Why did the mother make the 'I burnt this artwork, so you couldn't find the artwork' excuse by knowing full well she was going to lead the investigators to the ashes???? Seems like we're assuming she's being honest and no manipulation is going on. I suspect he mother has thrown some artwork on the fire, you know the cheaper ones, and also created some splashes of paint on some cheap paper ext and thrown that on the fire too...giving the impression that she burnt it all. What if, this isn't the end of the story? Imagine it isn't, and in 20 years Thoughty2 has to make a new video how the mother had the same genes for manipulation and keeping artwork. 😝

[@inzomniacZz]

Steph stealing the art just to enjoy and collect it rather than make a quick buck- that's funnily wholesome. Hurts my soul to know his mom destroyed em though, bet it ruined Steph's day too lol.

[@UrSoulsBelong2No1]

I'd be devastated tbh... *depressing*

[@ghe5669]

Even more wholesome when you consider the fact that he took the bullet for his GF. He must've really loved her.

[@Automat1cJack]

Agreed. Best reason to nick some shit is because you like it.

[@starfishfuukow6860]

I thought so too at first but then realized he was actually being selfish. I am sure other art lovers would’ve wanted to be able to appreciate them too, he just wanted to keep them for himself

[@SlapstickGenius23]

Steph the thief’s Family is so screwed up.

[@coreylong4855]

i love that you put a portrait of yourself with all the portraits he stole. That was a good one

[@reypolice5231]

What is probably most disturbing is this was never put on the news. This is the first I'm hearing about this and it's a 20-year-old event. He's probably still running around doing it. They keep letting him out after a few years.

[@daemonbane1]

Well, he got caught in 2005, published his book in 2006, Got caught again in both 2011 and 2019 and clearly the book sales weren't enough given he was trying to sell the paperweight online. He's been proven to be actively stealing from ages 25 through ~48, so I'm pretty sure he's not getting better. At this point its just untreated serial kleptomania and he'll probably be stealing for his whole life.

[@hamsandwich1333]

Disturbing? It’s downright hilarious. He should get a job as a museum security inspector and they should pay him for showing them how vulnerable their pieces are. 😂 what a guy

[@reypolice5231]

@@hamsandwich1333 Not funny as he destroyed hundreds of original art work. I think they were copies as nobody put up a fuss.

[@hamsandwich1333]

@@reypolice5231 he didn’t destroy nothing, his mother did. Also art is overvalued anyway. It’s all just some random people’s scribbles. The majority of it doesn’t even look pleasant anyways. People who think art is some priceless commodity never grew up and are half retarded.

[@reypolice5231]

@@hamsandwich1333 A picture is worth a thousand works. His actions of theft premeditated, lead to his mother destroying the evidence. Weather you value art or not it is some else's work and someone else's property. If art doesn't communicate to you, kindly go to a museum or art gallery and find something that you find beautiful and dose communicate joy, and love, or brings you peace. If you can't or won't look at man's creations, kindly look at all that the creator made around you. It's all Art, a butterfly, a puppy, a flower, the world is god's art gallery and man copies it because it is beautiful. Yes the dollar value it opinion. But the real value is it's impact on people's lives. The impact that art had on mankind and his peace is forever lost. Kindly look for the joy in all the art that is around you. Some of it is not my taste, but some of it is. Never the less it dose resonate with someone else, Hope you find something beautiful to look at and marvel. A tree, a mountain, a forest, morning sunrise over a valley with the fog lifting and the birds singing, all Art and some people capture that moment in art, some don't.

[@russellconn]

I can't believe how atrocious the security was in those museums especially the one he revisited multiple times.

[@Automat1cJack]

You'd think they'd up their security game after that shit

[@RainbowYak]

As a Swiss I can assure you this is very normal here because literally everything in Switzerland is about trust. Swiss people are generally very honest and we all trust each other, so the idea that some people might actually have bad intentions usually doesn't even cross our minds until someone actually does something bad.

[@melody3741]

Yeah museums who go through all your shit and then dont let you get close enough to even see the paintings because they dont trust you fucking suck

[@Foolish188]

Most Museums have very small budgets.

[@1locust1]

In this instance the thief was a foreigner.

[@equable1181]

This is one of my favorite stories I’ve heard so far. Bravo

[@djlee3276]

16:37, loved the last question!!!!! PROMISES NOT TO DO IT AGAIN? Yes

[@sergetheijspartner2005]

All those priceless paintings burned or waterdamaged, i nearly got a heart attack when you got to that bit, holy crap what a loss and I am not even an art fan myself, but to me it is not the paintings themselves, or the value of money but the sheer link to times long gone, the history they depicted from times we can't even imagine anymore, like seeing the last pictures of your beloved dead grandmother burning in a housefire, memories gone forever.

[@junyaiwase]

the world before: 🌎 the world after: 🌎

[@dshmechanic]

Well...I know this is rather small solace, but, on the bright side, we DO still have great photographs of all the destroyed works. Of course, nothing beats an original, but it's something, however small.

[@mrfrenzy.]

What makes you think all of the paintings were burned? Obviously she would have hid away some of them to retrieve later.

[@sergetheijspartner2005]

@Tom R but why are they valuable, it is not like the canvas, the wood frames, the paints or the oils where expensive materials on the contrary...It is their link to history that make them expensive, imagine we had pictures or videos of those times, then maybe they would not be as valuable as they are now, it's because we do not have any videos or pictures from those Era's that these paintings become more valuable, it's like our only link to those times depicting life, clothing, foods, themes etc.... (Off course I am not talking about abstract art). The value however is abstract aswell, you can't put a real nr on it, people tried and gave them a monetary value but actually they are priceless. It is like I said, I have pictures of my great grandparents, grandparents, pics and vids of my parents and my brother or even my son being born and growing up, imagine them burning up in a housefire? all those memories, all those times, gone forever, like tears in the rain (yeah I stole that line from Bladerunner but it's a good analogy)

[@repatch43]

@@sergetheijspartner2005 No, they are valuable because they are unique, and because someone did some great marketing. There isn't any inherent value of these pieces beyond the thousands of similar pieces from the same era. It's people SAYING they are valuable that is making them valuable.

[@odarrien]

Seems he appreciated artwork more than many who own them for the sake of owning 'expensive art'.

[@Faradeth1111]

Art is tax evasion for most owners, lets say they buy it for 3 mil 5 years later they hire their own appraiser and evaluate the painting at 25mil for reasons inflation that it hasnt appeared in public etc. etc..After that they donate said painting to a museum and hooray 20+ mil saved on taxes from the tax deduction. What they are doing is essentially pre paying their taxes at a 90% discount and if you own a gallery acquiring said art is a tax deduction to begin with.

[@ax3226]

It’s investment

[@paparoysworkshop]

So many items of art and history have been lost in the past for many reasons. To purposely burn them is so heart breaking.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

"This man stole 1.5 billion dollars worth of art with a screwdriver" - original title

[@jonwashburn7999]

Thanks

[@dolchzb]

no, original title was "Meet the Greatest Art Thief of All Time". some buzz words but a damn bold statement

[@hapwn]

Meet The Most Autistic Artistic Artisan Thief in History! 👈😂

[@jacobfredman9442]

to be honest 10/10 better title

[@voodoochile7581]

Aaron changes the title once he uploads. A clever trick that makes his videos look more appealing. Not that aren’t appearing. This channel is amazing

[@12Ger13]

That ending was painful, all those beautiful paintings sent to oblivion (only few people in the world had the chance to watch them live).

[@major_trollum]

my god..! what a magNIFICENT painting in that oval frame at 9:10 ! now THAT is art!

[@KiingDa3rd]

Honestly, big thumbs up for your editing. Great work. Nobody mentions it, so I will.

[@lesliejohnrichardson]

And nobody agrees to you, so I will.

[@Gamer_io]

This guy is the frickin’ Agent 47 who steals paintings.

[@univuniveral9713]

I hate thieves who steal art. It is really not cool and it is weak.

[@Gamer_io]

@@univuniveral9713 well, I hate thieves in general. 😅

[@Adama.1]

@@univuniveral9713 I don't care if someone steals art from a museum. I hate thieves who steal from people's homes more.

[@Foolish188]

@@Gamer_io I hate people who use the Government to steal from Peter to give to Paul, thinking they did something noble. But can't reach into their own pocket to give to Paul themselves.

[@theresabraddock9310]

'blue geezer playing guitar" I nearly spit my coffee out laughing!

[@honestlydontcareduh885]

I'm not a huge fan of art but to destroy it all like that is absolutely crazy.

[@georgfranko]

Art costs as much as the buyer is willing to pay for it . So in his eyes he may think he stole 50$ in total :D

[@tsmith3286]

Exactly

[@VivekYadav-ds8oz]

Damn the lawyer must've used this to reduce his sentence.

[@NarwahlGaming]

"Art costs the amount of money someone needs to launder."

[@dallywang6143]

Surely the seller also has a say in it?

[@veryfrozen3271]

@@NarwahlGaming need to move 500million and insure it without paying taxes??? 🤣😂

[@vavet314]

Stories like this need to be movies or a short film

[@willwrite3675]

Who told you there are no movies

[@vavet314]

Well point me to the movie or short film sir

[@shannonhensley2942]

My heart breaks that his mom threw art in a river and burned the rest makes me so sad. Were there not any options? Could she have not taken to the woods and buried them. Or idk thrown a tarp over them.

[@tebmc3466]

U really belive that lol

[@ErieRosewood]

yeah, I was hoping he'd say she took them to a storage unit. hearing she destroyed them, tat hurt my soul

[@jamesbizs]

Ah yes lol. Bury paintings. That will keep them safe 😂

[@controllerbrothers1230]

Your videos are getting more and more addicting fr

[@randymoore4027]

“The Maiden Heist” film (2009) has a similar plot whereby “Art” is stolen “out of love…”

[@y.r.p4017]

The release of a new Thoughty 2 video is the most Anticipated & Exciting Notification i recieve. Thanks for the dedication and passion that goes into each video. ( Love how the sponsors are inserted in some videos you can't help but laugh at the timing & lead up ) Hope that you keep making videos until the golden years

[@Automat1cJack]

Thoughty2 does a great job of transitioning into sponsored ads. Sometimes you don't even know he's launching into them

[@taitano12]

I've heard this story before. It's a good one. In the other version I heard, he'd started bawling when they told him about the ones his momma burned. The others could be restored, but those are lost forever.

[@glenns5627]

Probably just like the partners/parents/victims of alcoholics dumping their found booze... "He'll never see THIS crap again!"

[@slamyourheadin9449]

@@glenns5627 it ain’t “crap” it’s art that is hundreds of years old and holds a lot of history. You really comparing priceless art to alcohol?

[@justin01144]

@@slamyourheadin9449 come on.. use common sense.. he's making a metaphor. He saying that was his addiction as alcohol is to someone and it similarly hurt him to know they were destroyed as it would a alcoholic to know their alcohol was flushed.

[@vanesslifeygo]

Ah, so that's why security cameras are now shielded by glass.

[@lukegehring5305]

Fascinating, disgusting and depressing all at the same time.

[@Adama.1]

disgusting?

[@ltdan6466]

depressing?

[@Adama.1]

@@ltdan6466 I can see depressing, the part about all the art being burned. But nothing in this video can be considered disgusting

[@shonsenjaime177]

@Maksym yes

[@mohammadaminrajabi1828]

Omg. The moment he said "they just let the greatest art thievf in history get away" I jump out of my seat. Great way to start the video. So exciting.

[@roblazer6999]

Thanks for spoiling

[@blurrr8060]

@@roblazer6999 why u in the comments before u watch the vid lol whatchu expect

[@Ultamami]

*thief

[@mohammadaminrajabi1828]

@@roblazer6999 wtf are you doing in the comment section. The video is up there

[@mohammadaminrajabi1828]

@@Ultamami yeah, a typo

[@cdd4248]

21:44 - "Prison did absolutely nothing to reform"...No! Really, say it isn't true!

[@Kazooples]

This makes me so sad, he was completely devastated by the loss of the artwork, I don’t blame him.

[@synchronicity-thelanguageo3991]

Allegedly all burnt...you're assuming that this story is at the ending. Don't be surprised if the mother isn't on in 'keeping the artwork' by pretending to be a crazy loon burning it all. I suspect, this was a coy to trick authorities I mean the making the fire obvious is a little odd. She burnt it all so she could say, 'I burnt all the painting'. You see, something doesn't add up it is almost like she wanted them to think that. I would just burn some of the crappier art pieces, cheaper ones. Then I would get some paint, and splash some paint on bits of paper and throw them in a big fire...lol

[@yugenheorte6828]

21:37 for a second I expected to hear "when they searched his prison cell they found countless priceless works of stolen art xD"

[@GOKHANMERSINLIOGLU]

9:13 the Sixt art (painting) on the third row is priceless.

[@frozemoments39]

I spent 2 years in Lucern, Zug, Interlaken and Chomonixue France. Lucern is a very laid back place. Stefano, as I use to call him , hung out with me and my Swiss miss in little Immense, Switzerland for 3 weeks in 2002. Most people knew him as Lucky. Idk why.🤔. I’ve been watched here in Tennessee multiple times but live a normal life. True Story.

[@eyeball7465]

Lucky cos he didn't get caught

[@daemonthorn5888]

OMFG!!!! I can't believe she burned all of that priceless art! Just to save her idiot son from going to jail. That is an absolute tragedy. It makes me sick to my stomach.

[@spacesciencelab]

Yes it was unesseesery

[@omggom2488]

What's makes it even worse is the fact that her son only got 3 years in prison for that which imo is way too low and not that much in general

[@waribra599]

China can make new ones

[@davendrasingh3260]

thats the greatest mom ever on the plannet. are u nuts

[@azardean685]

@@waribra599 made what went wong

[@sibtainhaider2411]

Moral of the story, art is priceless. Those who can't pay, may just Take it.

[@mhenchion6524]

This would be such an amazing movie

[@T.v.d.V]

Absolutely beautifull life. So beautifull to have that view at home. Funny problem that gets bigger and bigger.

[@ganymede3141]

Great prisoner number at 12:50. Highly irrational, but I love it.

[@amynoacid]

I had to scroll so long to.find someone else who noticed the number was pi

[@ganymede3141]

@@amynoacid 👍👍 It was super subtle, but loved the little easter egg.

[@RobertCannesRobert]

"balls of legend" and "blue geezer playing quitar" cracked me up good xD

[@effingsix3825]

The problem here is economic. Subsistence wages(or not even) for the underclass, waiters, security guards, nurses, perhaps even police.

[@alvarezz09]

your voice for telling stories is impeccable

[@fvckyoutubescensorshipandt2718]

20:23 Yes, that would have been the appropriate punishment, with 1 tossed into the same canal as the paintings and the other burned in a bonfire at the same spot the art was burned. If he somehow did it again with no hands then repeat with both feet as well.

[@rgu3t0]

8:41 “Be back in 10 hun, gonna run down to the corner museum and pick up another painting! Need me to get you anything?!”

[@Violetskate]

This is literally the most entertaining channel ever

[@sbalogh53]

19:25 Lawyers say you should always keep your mouth firmly shut during police interviews.

[@Rooftopaccessorizer]

This is the most wholesome and amazing story ive ever seen. It really balances out the level of stupidity and baffling culture around modern fine art culture.

[@omisam2928]

His mother destroying all that artwork , All that history and 18 months in jail ? ignorance and foolishness that hurts humanity must suitably punished

[@justinthyme5730]

I don't think he stole them all... he only confessed to doing so. Who really knows what paintings his mother had burned... or didn't burn? Therefore there is no precise record. Some lucky art thieves now own paintings that are assumed burned or are assumed were stolen by this master art thief.

[@SF-fb6lv]

It's weird I haven't run into an exact accounting. Don't the museums/their insurance carriers know?

[@justinthyme5730]

@@SF-fb6lv The insurance companies would have a record of significant paintings. But there is still no proof that this particular art thief stole them all. It would be convenient for the police to frame (no pun intended) this guy to close up their art theft records.

[@treesaregreen]

i want to see that police confession interview, 'JCS criminal psychology' style

[@icekitty400]

They probably used the 'stealing from the cookie jar' technique. 😂

[@susim4503]

The sheer selfishness of this entire story takes my breath away. An art lover who disregards all the other art lovers and the mother willing to destroy irreplacable art. They were not just stealing from the owners or galleries, they stole the experience of seeing that art from us all. This guy didn't have big balls, he lacked the empathy to understand the enormity of what he was doing.

[@vox_5747]

nah dudes balls were massive, this is the coolest theft story ive seen in ages

[@ZenanWigton]

The mothers evil, but the guys a legend. The world sucks and people are monsters, who cares if others get to enjoy things??? Man's just wanted HIS art. He stole it fair and square with his massive Cojones! You wanna enjoy art go make or take your own chief 😅

[@sejfeti]

He’s balls are as huge as they get. No one cares about them weird paintings. Good on him.

[@vox_5747]

@You'll never know me because this is the internet you'll never know mwahahahaha

[@honeybadgerisme]

sociopathy would also explain his "very cool under pressure" part, as well

[@BostonJon420]

Moral of the story never tell the police anything even when they seem to hold all the cards.

[@Mluera]

People plan art heists for years with a handful of people and this guy just strolls in and picks it up and leaves

[@corvettebob96]

The tale is very well articulated. Kept my attention the whole time. I cringed when you said the mother burned and sank the paintings. I don't even know much about art.

[@dk-bw4gk]

I'm glad Yoshi Shiratori finally got the recognition he deserves.

[@MustangWriter]

This was a sad story to those of us who also love art.

[@inyrui]

yeah that mom is a real bitch lol. i'm sure if the guy really appreciated the art he wouldn't have wanted it destroyed and would have had a contingency plan for this, probably one that didn't involve a river. maybe the mom didn't know the value or just valued her son more, who knows. still a fucked thing to do to try to save someone who is so clearly guilty

[@TheDramacist]

Devastating

[@aldavedario4818]

@@inyrui dude was lucky. me mum would've sold me out and gave me a huge slap in the face after my dad clapped me with a stick lol

[@z3al0t]

Or money

[@p-slick9956]

I love the step brothers reference; boats and ho’s 😂 had me cracking up

[@turbocharged0611]

Thoughty2 is the greatest thief in history. He stole my ability to stay on task when i get a notification about his new video. And then commence down the rabbit hole of "thoughty2" videos until i finally realize that its 3am and i have work in 2 hours.... DAMN YOU THOUGHTY2!!!! DAMN YOU!!!! 😂😂

[@rjwilliams1986]

What a fantastically captivating episode. Didn’t know this guy existed. So interesting!

[@subnoizesoldier2]

Check out more I love this dude good narration and humor

[@just-dragon-yt]

your content is really amazing and from all the channels i been following over the years, yours is one i like the most, the way u explain things, your accent, your charisma, you are interesting too listen too, your voice is made for this!! awesome channel.

[@Exxeron-ob3tv]

Have you checked out the Why Files?

[@Bambisgf77]

@@Exxeron-ob3tvAJ & Hecklefish have charisma in spades! WF is such a great channel.

[@trey-vaughnperez1800]

Oh this man gonna hate NFT’s

[@akg_table]

"huh, theres this same guy in all 58 locations that had a painting stolen the same day is appearing on the security footages. no biggie"

[@michealbohmer2871]

Hahaha!! Love the Aaron portrait amongst the artwork at 10:59! Priceless, one might say.

[@theursulus]

He must have been heartbroken to learn his mum had torched part of his collection.. can't believe that burning beautiful irreplaceable art.. 😢

[@PrairieWolff]

I'm surprised he didn't end up working for les UX. What a resume.

[@nemanja98rs]

As if they are so easy to work with, I looked for weeks for a way to contact them

[@PrairieWolff]

@@nemanja98rs You can't find les UX, they find you....... Neo

[@nemanja98rs]

@@PrairieWolff hahaha I guess, tell them I'm writing a book and need to play 10 questions with them xD

[@jerrylloel6331]

Honestly I believe the paintings are just chillin somewhere !?! The greatest heist ever !! 🤓😎

[@jonathanmoody8757]

"This Man Stole $1.5 Billion Worth of Art With a Screwdriver" - Original Title

[@real_naps]

Shouldn’t all of them be incased in a box / protector due to them being high value?

[@Natural_Power]

He stole A LOT of art but not super high value, these were probably rather cheap ($50-$200) and not expected to be stolen

[@Natural_Power]

@Lindy T Didn't think it trough He admitted to stealing about 170 pieces but it's thought he stole around 250, which'd put the average art piece at 5mil in value

[@dudexd908]

@@Natural_Power well i guess they weren‘t as high of value at the time they were stolen

[@EnigmaticLucas]

@@Natural_Power Fun Fact: Before it was stolen and returned, the Mona Lisa was considered one of da Vinci's lesser-quality works

[@hapwn]

It must of been Hunter Bidens work. That's why all he got was a slap on the wrist. Possibly a pat on the back too for getting rid of that horrid display.

[@jimmyzhao2673]

He should have just got one of those HD tv's that you hang on the wall and it cycles through artwork.

[@blackcrownep]

She was willing to burn all that art to protect her son, but she couldn't get him a lawyer?

[@franklinthompson9487]

Well the lawyer is expensive, burning it doesn’t cost anything

[@lavenderpants8695]

Congrats on almost 4million!

[@richardd9349]

With a title like that, I immediately think of the Lockpicking Lawyer vids of him disabling so many locks in seconds.

[@silverhawkscape2677]

I have to love criminals who commit near the police station across the street.

[@dizzydaddy000]

Hence, art pieces should only be copies. .0001% of the visitors actually appreciate every minor detail ...

[@miguelmejia4656]

no art is worth a million dollars

[@Siegmeyer_]

I agree with you, many people have attempted to destroy pieces of art too

[@bigboybaggins8993]

@@miguelmejia4656 I disagree. Atleast for the antique ones which are from a time long gone. Modern art? Totally agree.

[@sarthakarora3212]

@@bigboybaggins8993 there is no difference between modern and old art . What the hell are you saying?

[@angeleyeszarai]

I'm surprised they don't do this. But at the same time we go to museums to see real art, history, etc. We don't go to see copies. But that does make rational sense

[@stevezonneveld5171]

Nice touch putting pic of yourself in the collage of stolen paintings!!

[@Zoronita]

I was more sad to hear all that beautiful art ended up in the river lol But seriously, all those crimes and he got THREE YEARS?! Bloody hell. He probably should have gotten a longer sentence... And I can't believe he stole all that art just to keep it. That is...insane and terrific.

[@Jabarri74]

Do it again repeat offender caught for the 3rd time now 3 years again and this is from someone penniless. Pretty sure stealing 1.4 billion ANY other way would have you locked up for life

[@marilonesongate3208]

He saw, admired it and took it. A real man takes what he wants.

[@gisleyalves2549]

🇧🇷 I confess: I LOVE the stories ( in my perception , the history , once they are real) I listen to from this channel.🇧🇷

[@bridgetsclama]

That destroyed artwork!!!!! That is a tragedy of history. I think I would have tried to figure a way to return them to a museum/gallery. After wiping the prints off, of course.

[@jlsouth7337]

Why why why why would she do that??? It's basically the delete button on actual history

[@hunarc5377]

Haha I love the word "I'M NO GIVING YOU AN IDEA"