Before drifting down the path of the cliffs, Norwegian Pål Enger played soccer at the top.
Pål Enger, who became a father around the time of the art theft, mocked the police, among other things, by ranting in the Syntyneet column of the newspaper in the following way: – “Pål Enger’s son was born screaming!” Over
A talented Norwegian soccer player By Pål Enger the name was associated less than 30 years ago with one of the art thefts of the century.
A work of art from the National Gallery in Oslo, immeasurably valuable Call was stolen at the same time that Norwegians watched the Lillehammer Olympics in 1994. All that remained was a postcard addressed to the authorities.
– In it, the police and the National Gallery, the Oslo Police Inspectorate were ripped off Leif A. Lier remembers Art thefts of the century in the series.
Strictly speaking, the card was a thank you card.
– Thanks for the poor security arrangements, it said.
Who responded to the sarcastic thanks? Pål Enger, a former top athlete who had truly become an art thief.
– Before the act, I had already written the postcard, he admits on TV.
First, due to a miscalculation, Pål Enger stole the wrong painting, the Vampire in the picture. Norbert Foersterling
Earlier, Enger had accidentally stolen another work by Edvard Munch (1863–1944), To the vampire. He had climbed the ladder to the second floor of the gallery and taken the painting from the gap in the curtain. Actually, however, Enger was not interested in the work in question, but only in Huuto.
– But I had lowered the windows incorrectly. After breaking the window, I grabbed the painting and pulled it out. Then I noticed that it wasn’t the Scream. I was disappointed, of course, Enger admits.
The second time he stole the painting he intended.
Norwegian police teamed up with New Scotland Yard’s art crime unit to recover the Scream painting. @diana_jarvis / Alamy Stock Photo, All Over Press
But was the life of a top athlete worth exchanging for the everyday life of a convicted art thief? According to his own words, Enger played at the major league level as a 16–18-year-old teenager. He had become so successful that he owned an apartment and a car.
– Of course, the football career ended with the first prison sentence following the Vampire theft. That was pretty sad. I had been training for years to further my football career, Enger admits.
Art thefts of the century today at Teema & Femi at 10:30 pm & in Areena. See all TV programs and broadcast times in Telku’s TV guide.