From The Beeb:
Stolen Bruegel masterpiece was switched with fake in police sting
Police in Italy are unconcerned about the daring theft of a Flemish master's painting - because they had replaced it with a fake a month ago.
The painting by Pieter Brueghel the Younger, worth millions, apparently vanished from a church on Wednesday.
Thieves used a hammer to smash open its display case and made off in a car.
Hours later, Italian police revealed they had heard rumours of the planned heist - and installed cameras to catch the thieves in the act.
The painting of the crucifixion had also been replaced with a copy, and the original kept safe and sound, they said.
I love it - good job by the popo. My guess is that the thieves already had a buyer - wonder if the money changed hands already. Interesting to see what happens with that transaction...
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