Stealing Van Gogh

In December 2002, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam saw two of its most priceless and historically important paintings get stolen. It was reported to be the greatest art heist of the 21st century, and still holds that historical place today.

In this BBC special, we see British art historian and broadcaster Andrew Graham-Dixon confronting the worlds of high art and seriously organised crime in a bid to uncover the truth which lies behind this audacious robbery.

To this day, the stolen Van Gogh paintings still remain missing, but what really happened to them? 

The criminals who took the paintings would have found it next to impossible to sell them because of their easy worldwide recognition unless the thieves had been specifically commissioned to steal the paintings by someone in particular. 

It is a mystery which takes Andrew across Europe, moving between the worlds of high art and low crime. Through meetings with policemen, prosecutors and art experts, he uncovers just how the world of violent and organised crime makes extensive use of stolen art.

The ultimate question is whether these masterpieces will ever be successfully recovered.