Brazen heist at Australia gallery

By Nick Bryant
BBC News, Sydney

Gallery boss Edmond Capon holds a copy of the stolen painting

A million dollar painting by the 17th Century Dutch artist Frans van Mieris has been stolen from the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney.

The painting was taken during viewing hours on Sunday, although police only announced the theft on Thursday.

Police say an expert must have taken part in the robbery, and they have not ruled out the possibility of a gallery insider being involved.

The heist has all the hallmarks of a Hollywood whodunit.

The robbery took place on a day when more than 6,000 people passed through the gallery's doors.

To add to the intrigue the masterpiece, A Cavalier (Self Portrait), which is roughly the size of a chessboard, was fastened to the walls by screws.

On noticing its absence, staff at the gallery initially searched the archive, thinking it may simply have been misplaced. It was only then that they realised it had been stolen.

Police are now scouring footage taken by security cameras at the gallery, although the room containing the portrait was not covered by video surveillance.

Investigators believe an expert may have taken part in the theft.

They have not ruled out the possible involvement of a gallery insider - a standard line of inquiry. The FBI in the US claims that 80% of museum theft cases are inside jobs.

As for the painting, art experts say it is unsaleable on the open market because it is so well known.

They fear it may be bought by an unscrupulous private collector.