In a recent art heist from a Dutch museum, thieves got away with a Picasso, a Monet, a few Gauguins and Matisses. But, fortunately, they didn’t get away with anything of value.

There is simply no way to sell stolen art that is this famous. Respectable collectors won’t touch the stuff and would gladly turn in the thieves; the criminals can’t trust disreputable collectors — no honor among thieves and all that.

The entire exercise of art theft is a waste of everyone’s time and money. The paintings are usually recovered; the thieves are arrested, poorer than they were when they started; and there’s a good chance the art itself is damaged or destroyed in the process.