If the thieves were smart, they had *multiple* buyers lined up before. It's a scam that works like this: forge a dozen or so really good copies of the painting you are going to steal. Arrange to find buyers for the painting on the condition that you can steal it and deliver it. Steal the painting, deliver the dozen forgeries to your dozen buyers. Keep the original.
None of your buyers can reveal they bought the painting, as it's stolen, so they don't know you are selling multiple copies. You can pre-ship your forgeries internationally before you steal the original, thus cutting down on your need to smuggle.
Plus, if you get caught, you can turn over the original hoping to reduce charges, and plus you've got 12x the black market price of the painting in cash to hire lawyers (and bodyguards, since you now have 12 rich people pissed off at you).
no subject
None of your buyers can reveal they bought the painting, as it's stolen, so they don't know you are selling multiple copies. You can pre-ship your forgeries internationally before you steal the original, thus cutting down on your need to smuggle.
Plus, if you get caught, you can turn over the original hoping to reduce charges, and plus you've got 12x the black market price of the painting in cash to hire lawyers (and bodyguards, since you now have 12 rich people pissed off at you).