Empty Frame
Cases unlock in order, like levels. This is case 121 of 200.
Coopers' House Museum, Colmar, in Alsace, a Saturday in June, 30°C. At 1:05 pm, the guard walked back into the portrait room and found an empty frame on the wall.
The "Lady of the Carnation," a Flemish portrait from 1630, about the size of a hand and a half, was missing. The canvas had been cut flush with the edge. The frame was still screwed to the wall.
At lunchtime the museum has a single guard and a turnstile at the entrance. There are no cameras in the rooms. Nobody heard a thing.
Three people know that room better than anyone. One of them walked out with the Lady under their clothes.
The portrait room of a small museum, with gilt frames and an easel covered by a cloth.
Suspects
Odile FallerMuseum guard, 59
Julien ArbogastWaiter at the brasseriebrasserie French café-restaurant, informal and open all day, serving simple meals and drinks. across from the museum, 31
Clémence HaagAuthorized copyist at the museum, 26
The real case
Breitwieser's thefts, the museum thief
Europe, 1995 to 2001
Read the real case