You Stole My Diamonds! Quiz | Specialized History

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 2000 an attempt was made to steal the 203ct. Millennium Star diamond. Where was it being exhibited at the time?

Answer: The Millennium Dome, London

The flawless, pear shaped, diamond was the central part of a diamond exhibition at London's Millennium Dome. The robbers' plan was to smash the display case with a mechanical digger, grab the Millennium Star and the eleven other diamonds in the exhibition, and escape by speedboat down the adjacent River Thames. Police had been tipped off in advance and were waiting for them.

The entire gang were arrested.

2. In which year did Colonel Blood try to steal the English Crown Jewels?

Answer: 1671

Then, as now, the Crown Jewels were kept in the Tower of London, but were not on public display. They could however been seen for a fee. Colonel Blood was given a private viewing during which he and his gang overpowered the Assistant Keeper of the Jewels.

They then removed the jewels from their cupboard and hid them in their clothing. They were apprehended when the Assistant Keeper's son returned unexpectedly and raised the alarm. Colonel Blood was never punished for his acts. King Charles II, who was known to have a fondness for scoundrels, pardoned him and gave him lands in Ireland.

3. The Brinks Mat warehouse robbery is one of the most lucrative thefts of gold ever carried out. How much did the thieves get away with?

Answer: �26,000,000

When the thieves entered the warehouse in 2003 they expected to find around �3,000,000 in cash. Instead they found that the warehouse was storing ten tonnes of gold bullion, worth �26,000,000 at 2003 bullion prices. Police quickly discovered the security guard who helped the robbers, and he and the architect of the robbery both received prison sentences. Three tonnes of the gold has never been recovered.

4. Which painting has been stolen from the National Gallery of Norway more than once?

Answer: The Scream

In early 1994 Edvard Munch's "The Scream" was stolen from the Oslo Museum. It was recovered a few months later. In 2004 it was stolen again, along with his "Madonna", when two masked men overpowered a guard and took the paintings off the wall. It took two years for the paintings to be recovered and they had suffered some damage.

The restored paintings were put back in the museum, but with heightened security.

5. In 1911 one of the most famous paintings in the world, the "Mona Lisa", was stolen. Which famous artist was arrested as a possible suspect?

Answer: Pablo Picasso

Although he was hundreds of miles away from Paris when the theft happened Picasso was arrested as soon as he returned to the city. This was on the basis of the police having been informed that he was in possession of stolen art works.
The theft was carried out by a Museum employee who just walked out with it under his coat. Two years after the theft the painting turned up in an apartment in Florence.

6. In March 2004 jewellery and other items - all Elvis Presley memorabilia and worth over $300,000 - were stolen from which museum?

Answer: Elvis-A-Rama

Elvis-A-Rama was a privately owned museum which had exhibits of vehicles, jump suits, guitars, jewellery and other memorabilia. In March 1974 burglars made off with jewellery and other items. These were recovered in November 2005 when an Elvis impersonator was offered them by the thief.

7. In 2005 a sculpture weighing some two tonnes was stolen from Perry Green, England. Who was the sculptor?

Answer: Henry Moore

The bronze sculpture "Reclining Figure" was stolen from the Henry Moore Foundation during the night. Police believe it was lifted by crane onto a lorry and was probably sold for scrap.

8. The largest robbery in Israeli history happened in 1983 when 200 items were stolen from the L. A. Mayer Institute for Islamic Art. One item alone was estimated to be worth $30 million. What was it?

Answer: The Marie Antoinette Watch

More than 200 rare clocks and watches were stolen in the robbery, amongst them the Marie Antoinette watch. Made by Abraham Breguet to her specific order, it was the pride of the museum. In 2008 around half the stolen items, including the watch, were found in two French bank safes.

9. Canadian Gerald Blanchard was the modern equivalent of a gentleman jewel thief. When arrested over a bank robbery he also confessed to the theft of which priceless jewel?

Answer: Kochert Pearl Diamond

The Kochert Pearl Diamond, also known as the Star of Empress Sisi, was stolen from Vienna in 1998. Blanchard replaced the original with a replica and it was two weeks before the theft was discovered. When arrested on another matter he confessed to this and other crimes, and in return received a reduced sentence.

He also showed police where to find the jewel and in 2009 it was returned to Austria by the Canadian authorities.

10. In 1964 the Star of India sapphire was stolen from which museum?

Answer: American Museum of Natural History

The thieves entered through a bathroom window that they unlocked earlier in the day. They found that the Star of India was the only gem alarm protected, and the battery was dead, so the theft was relatively easy. They also took the de Long Ruby and the Eagle Diamond, as well as other lesser gems. Police swiftly arrested the thieves and the Star of India was later recovered from a locker in a Miami bus station. Most of the other stones were also found but the Eagle Diamond has not been seen since the robbery.

Source: Author StarStruck60

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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You Stole My Diamonds! Trivia Quiz

Diamonds are a thief's best friend. So are rubies, emeralds, gold and pictures. Join me in a quick look at some famous thefts.

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