In today’s episode, we’re discussing “How to steal a masterpiece” with Robert K. Wittman. Robert is the former Senior Investigator and Founder of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Art Crime Team. Robert joined the FBI as a Special Agent in 1988 and during his 20 year career with the Bureau, he recovered more that $300 million worth of stolen art and cultural property. He has represented the United States around the world conducting investigations and instructing international police departments and museums in investigation, recovery and security techniques. In 2008, Robert retired from the Bureau and brought his expertise to the private sector, where he helps clients mitigate risks related to theft, fraud and forgery. Since its inception, Robert Wittman Inc. has grown to also provide protection and recovery services to more than 100 public and private collections worldwide. In 2010, Robert Wittman penned and published the New York Times best-selling memoir “Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures”.
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How to Steal a Masterpiece – How to get on a Watchlist
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Books and media mentioned during the episode, and suggestions for further research on this topic:
- Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures – Robert K Wittman
- Stealing the Show: A History of Art and Crime in Six Thefts (John Barelli & Zach Schisgal)
Additional reading suggestions can be found on our 2025 geopolitical reading list.
Purchases made using the links in this article earn referrals for Encyclopedia Geopolitica. As an independent publication, our writers are volunteers from within the professional geopolitical intelligence community, and referrals like this support future articles.
The hosts:
Lewis Sage-Passant is a researcher in the field of intelligence and espionage, and a former British Military Intelligence Officer. Lewis holds a PhD from Loughborough University in intelligence studies, and is an adjunct professor in intelligence at Sciences Po Paris. He has extensive experience working and living in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions in a variety of geopolitical analysis and intelligence roles, supporting the energy industry, the financial sector, leading technology firms, and the pharmaceuticals sector. He has appeared in numerous media outlets, including the BBC, France24, CNBC, Harvard Business Review, The New Arab, El Mundo, GQ, and others, discussing intelligence, geopolitics, and security topics.
Cormac Mc Garry is the Director for Maritime Security at Control Risks, a global specialist risk management consultancy. He helps a range of clients, from ship owners and manufacturers to insurers and law firms, understand risk in the maritime word. He also teaches on the topic as an Adjunct Professor at Sciences Po Paris and has previously worked in East Africa, the Irish Defence Forces and the National Maritime College of Ireland.
The production team:
Producer: Edwin Tran
Researchers: Alex Smith & Aleksandra Szylkiewicz
Additional credit goes to several unnamed members of the Encyclopedia Geopolitica team, as well as our colleagues in the intelligence and security community who helped to make this podcast possible.
If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe on your podcast platform of choice. Please also consider supporting our work via a Patreon subscription (getting you access to early releases and other perks), or by tipping us on Ko-fi. While the topics we discuss here are often shrouded in secrecy and security classifications, we really hope you’ll tell your friends about us!
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