On May 7, 1994, Edvard Munch's “The Scream” was returned to its original location in Oslo, Norway, almost three months after it was stolen. Recovered undamaged at a hotel in Asgardstrand, the fragile painting was found over 40 miles south of Oslo, according to police. The waiflike figure, painted on a bridge in 1893, was removed in less than a minute on February 12.
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Two robbers came in via a window of the National Gallery. They proceeded to cut a wire that was securing the painting to the wall. Finally, the duo left a note for police reading "A thousand thanks for the bad security!" There were some false claims of the stolen painting, one from an anti-abortion group demanding that the government air an anti-abortion ad to have the painting returned. Another anonymous note demanded $1million, but this group was proven to be falsified.
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Paal Enger, one of the four men, had been convicted of stealing Munch’s “The Vampire” in Oslo back in 1988. Sentenced to six-and-a-half-years in prison, Enger wasn't there for long. He managed to escape while on a routine field trip in 1999. He was captured only 12 days after the escape, found wearing a blond wig and dark sunglasses while attempting to buy a train ticket to Copenhagen.