The news that the five stolen paintings from the former village hall in Medemblik have been found has also received international attention. The American news channel CNN brought the story to attention and calls detective Arthur Brand ‘the Indiana Jones of the art world’.
The American channel writes the following: “Five stolen paintings from the former village hall in the small art town of Medemblik in North Holland have been returned. This was done via an unusual home delivery service to an art detective, about 64 kilometers from Amsterdam.”
That detective is Arthur Brand. The historic works were delivered to his door on Friday, October 13. On September 2, the paintings disappeared from the former village hall. A barometer and chandelier were also taken. The paintings are above water, but the barometer and chandelier are still missing.
In the interview with CNN, Brand says that the art robbers may have become anxious and that the police may already be on their tail. “You can burn the works, but that’s a bad idea, because if you get caught you will get a higher prison sentence,” the art detective explains. “That’s why they thought it might be a better idea to dump them on my doorstep.”
Honest finder?
A reward of 10,000 euros was offered for providing the golden tip. That money is not paid out. “I don’t claim that either, the works were simply brought to my home,” the art detective previously told NH. “I did ask for a book voucher.”