"The painting was stolen from the Louvre museum in Paris in 1911 by Brazilian art seller Eduardo de Valfierno and Italian forger Yves Chaudron. The pair had been selling forgeries in Latin America. On a trip to Paris they were amazed to find how little security there was at the Louvre. On Sunday 20th August 1911 they, along with Italian carpenter Vincent Perugia, who knew the layout of the Louvre, arrived at the museum just before closing time. They hid in a disused storeroom over night and changed into overalls similar to those worn by museum workers. The next day the museum was closed for maintenance. The team walked to the Mona Lisa, removed the painting, carried it through the museum in full sight of others and went down a disused staircase. They tried to pick the lock at the bottom with a forged key, but failed. To their luck a plumber came by with a key and opened the door for them. It was a day before the museum staff realised the painting had been stolen. The painting was eventually found and returned two years later when Perugia tried to sell the Mona Lisa to Italian art dealer Giovanni Poggi. Poggi had him arrested."