Page 67 - All About History - Issue 16-14

10 Daring Heists

The security of the Gardner Museum

A TWO-MAN TEAM MOTION DETECTORS EXHIBIT PROXIMITY ALARMS
On the night of the heist, only two members While the museum is cagey about the exact Only one alarm system appears to have startled
of the Isabella Gardner Museum security nature of its security measures during the the robbers: the proximity sensors. Each piece
team were on site. After closing hours, the 1990 heist, it has confirmed that a series of of art had a pressure sensor in the floor that
institution’s policy at the time was to ensure motion detectors were in place. The data sends out a high-pitched shriek, alerting guards
no one but registered staff were permitted from these sensors was submitted to the if someone stepped too close to a exhibit.
on site. It was also policy to run all requests FBI’s investigation and showed the activity Upon setting off the alarm, the robbers quickly
for entry by the head of security. patterns of the robbers. located its source and neutralised it.
The museum holds many
valuable pieces of art that the
robbers didn’t take

wearing their uniforms in an unmarked car, but Two Boston policemen are slowly approaching was also museum policy to call the head of security
soon disappear back inside their own low-key party the security office. They’re decked out in their with any official requests, but he could hardly call
before they’re busted for underage drinking. usual uniform, yet both are wearing unmarked at this time of night, could he?
Back inside, 24 year-old Richard Abath is sat at dark trench coats rather than the standard issue “Sir, please let us in”, says one of the policemen
his desk in the museum’s security office, his eyes police jacket. Abath sits glued to his chair, peering again, his friendly demeanour starting to crack.
flitting to the clock on the wall with an unrelenting around the corner to see if his colleague is back He’s fallen foul of the law enough times in the past
frequency. He’s been moonlighting as a watchman from his rounds, but the hallway leading to the that he isn’t about to let it happen again. With a
at the museum for a few months now, picking up museum proper lies still as ever. All alone, Abath penchant for alcohol and marijuana, Abath hardly
the gig as a way to fund his daytime passion for turns back to the policeman. Pressing the intercom has a clean record to fall back on. So with a press
music. A Berklee College Of Music dropout, Abath buzzer at the side of the outer door, one of the of button the security door opens and the two
spends most of his free time gigging with his officers steps up to the glass. “Police! Let us in. We policemen stroll into the warmth of the office.
perpetually unsuccessful rock band Ukiah, and heard about a disturbance in the courtyard.” Abath doesn’t move while the two men approach
despite enjoying the extra cash the night-time job So much for a quiet night, thinks Abath. The him. Suddenly, pressing that button starts to seem
is pulling in, he’s planning to hand in his notice in policemen are starting to look a little disgruntled like an awfully big mistake.
a few weeks. He smiles to himself at the thought of standing out in the cold, but it was the museum’s “You look familiar… I think we have a default © Corbis
freedom, looks up and nearly falls off his chair. policy to refuse entry to anyone at all after hours. It warrant out for you”, says one of the officers,

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