The art theft of “Poppy Flowers” (1887)

Vincent van Gogh's painting “Vase with Pechnelken” was stolen twice from the Mohamed M. Khalil Museum in Cairo. The first time occurred in 1978. A year later the painting returned to Kuwait and after another year the painting returned to the collection of Mohamed M. Khalil. The second theft occurred in the Mohamed M. Khalil Museum in Cairo during broad daylight hours. Although there were only about ten visitors to the museum that day, there is no trace of the thief. Only seven of the approximately 50 surveillance cameras worked - an alarm system that was installed never went into operation. The thief removed the canvas from the frame, rolled it up and walked out of the museum. Subsequently, two Italian tourists were arrested at the airport who had previously been to the museum and were behaving abnormally because they went to the toilet together. However, they were released shortly afterwards. Based on the disastrous security technology and inadequate museum surveillance, all museum employees were briefly released after the art robbery became known until further details on the theft became known. However, the Cairo police are largely reluctant to provide information.