The art gallery Couleur on Östermalm in Stockholm was subjected to a burglary in January 2020. According to the gallery's owner, several works by Salvador Dalí have been stolen.

How likely it is that the art, which is worth millions, will be found depends, among other things, on the type of art thief in question.

- There are different kinds of perpetrators of art theft, says Maria Ellior, police superintendent and national coordinator for cultural heritage crimes at the police's National Operations Department.

1. The ill-conceived

On the one hand, there are the less well-planned crimes, which seem to have been carried out on indictment, so that the perpetrator became aware of the value of the works.

The national regalia that were stolen in Strängnäs Cathedral are an example of when thieves may have taken the objects without really knowing what to do with them.

- In that case, it seemed to be inadequate planning, says Maria Ellior.

Valuable art is often sought after internationally and it is not uncommon for images of all works to be available at Interpol.

This can make the works more difficult to sell, and in the case of the stolen national regalia, they were also found later, dumped in a rubbish bin. 

- It would not surprise me if the Dalí sculptures appear on the front page of Interpol, where everyone can see that they have been stolen and wanted, says Maria Ellior.

2. The specialists

Another kind of art thief is the exact opposite, well-planned and with a large network.

The thefts at the Thiel Gallery in 2000 seem to be an example of when the theft was carefully planned.

The robbers escaped in a car and must have had a boat waiting.

The total value is estimated at SEK 25–30 million and none of the works have been found today.

- For it to be an idea to steal precious art, you have to know that you can get some sales for it and it is quite complicated.

You should have a network of criminals with healers and who specialize in this, may already have a client when the crime is committed.

How likely is it to find stolen art? 

- The police have managed to get stolen art back in many cases, so that should not be ruled out, says Maria Ellior.