US Couple Stuns the World with $160 Million Art Theft

Art investigators suspect that Jerry and Rita Alter may have been involved in multiple art thefts. Despite living a seemingly ordinary life, the elderly couple from New Mexico are now under investigation for a daring heist in the 1980s. They allegedly stole a Willem de Kooning painting valued at around 120,000,000 pounds from an art museum in Arizona.

After Jerry’s passing, the stolen painting was discovered hanging behind their bedroom door. The FBI is currently looking into their possible involvement in other art thefts and is trying to locate two other stolen paintings found in their possession.

Despite their modest incomes, the Alters were able to travel extensively around the world. According to reports, Rita had over $1,000,000 in bonds before her death, despite her yearly salary being only around $16,000. Their wealth was apparently accumulated through various inheritances.

Investigators suspect that the couple may have also been responsible for the theft of two paintings from the Harwood Museum of Art in New Mexico in 1985. The FBI is actively searching for these missing paintings.

One of the stolen paintings was returned to the museum after being spotted by customers at a charity shop. The other two paintings are thought to have been sold at an auction in Arizona. The Harwood Museum is appealing to the public for any information on the whereabouts of these missing artworks.

Juniper Leherissey, the executive director at Harwood’s, is hopeful that the missing paintings will be returned. She stated to the Taos News, “Hopefully, they’ll recognise that they belong to the Harwood and give them back.”