Nearly everyone can get behind a good heist story. The set-up, the suspense and the stolen goods can keep you at the edge of your seat. Almost all heists are committed with a lucrative payout in mind, but some of the more fascinating stories of stolen goods center on priceless objects and obsession, like the drive to possess a rare book or bird specimen. Here are some stranger-than-fiction heist stories that will keep you turning the pages.
The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, And The Natural History Heist Of The Century recounts the enthralling story of a young, gifted musician who robbed the British Natural History Museum of more than a million dollars' worth of rare bird specimens for their beautiful feathers coveted by fly tiers like himself. Was it the obsessive behavior of a young man with Asperger's or a well-plotted crime driven by greed?
Allison Hoover Bartlett explores bibliomania in The Man Who Loved Books Too Much, which tells the story of John Gilkey, whose love of books led him to a life a crime, and the rare book dealer intent on catching him.
Curious about the allure of antique maps? Check out the story of E. Forbes Smiley, a respected antique map dealer with a dark secret: he visited esteemed libraries, like Yale's, and stole maps to support his lavish lifestyle. The Map Thief by Michael Blanding also provides a peek into the fascinating subculture of map collecting.
Finally, the subject of Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief, John Laroche, doesn't rob a museum or library; he steals rare orchids from nature. Orlean delves into the strange world of orchid collection and propagation in this engrossing narrative.
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