Cellini Salt Cellar & Russia-Estonia Vodka Pipeline

Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum

A novice art thief climbed up the scaffolding outside __, crawled through a broken second-floor window, shattered a display case, and made off with one of the greatest Renaissance artifacts in the world while avoiding high-tech motion sensors and 24-hour security guards.

gold-plated salt cellar

On May 11, 2003, a scandal erupted throughout Austria as a result of the early-morning theft of the __, which was estimated to be worth £52 million.

£52 million

On May 11, 2003, a scandal erupted throughout Austria as a result of the early-morning theft of the gold-plated salt cellar, which was estimated to be worth ___.

Robert Mang

In January 2006, police detained 50-year-old _, a security alarm specialist, and voracious sculpture collector, after the thief's two unsuccessful attempts to demand ransom. He quickly admitted what happened, saying that the theft was "rather spontaneous".

Vienna

The Renaissance treasure was hidden in a wooded area 90 kilometers (55 miles) northeast of .

Mona Lisa

On August 21, 1911, the renowned _ by Leonardo da Vinci is taken from Paris's Louvre Museum, but it is found two years later when the criminals try to sell it.

August 21, 1911

On , the renowned Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci is taken from Paris's Louvre Museum, but it is found two years later when the criminals try to sell it.

October 16, 2012

On __, the Netherlands' Kunsthal Museum was broken into by a Romanian gang, who made off with seven masterpieces worth £19 million.

Netherlands' Kunsthal Museum

On October 16, 2012, the was broken into by a Roman_ian gang, who made off with seven masterpieces worth £19 million.

Romanian gang

On October 16, 2012, the Netherlands' Kunsthal Museum was broken into by a _, who made off with seven masterpieces worth £19 million.

Kyrgyzstan River

From August to November 2004, a group of resourceful smugglers used a remarkable 2-km (114-mile) pipeline under the to smuggle massive amounts of vodka from Russia to Estonia in order to avoid paying taxes.

European Union

Vodka was much more expensive in Estonia, which had only recently joined the on May 1, 2004, than it was in Russia.

Tallinn

Unfortunately, the smugglers were unable to locate even one customer for the illicit vodka in ___, the nation's capital.

Tartu

Finally, they unloaded it in _, the second-largest city in Estonia.

Narva

Workers digging holes for trees found the pipeline along the bottom of a reservoir close to the border town of _, which led to the accidental discovery of the operation.

1,400 liters (306 gallons)

Customs officers shut down the pipeline and seized__ of the alcohol. Later on, in Tallinn, they also found a sizable amount of untaxed alcohol concealed in a truck.

11

According to estimates made by authorities, the group of ___ Russian and Estonian smugglers had already transported 7,450 liters (1,638 gallons) of vodka from Russia to Estonia when they were caught.

7,450 liters (1,638 gallons)

According to estimates made by authorities, the group of 11 Russian and Estonian smugglers had already transported of vodka from Russia to Estonia when they were caught.

Windsor, Canada to Detroit, Michigan

On 1916, rum-runners sneak alcohol by boat from ___ after the state of Michigan outlawed the selling of alcohol.

Latvia into Lithuania

On August 12, 1998, a pipeline used to import alcohol from __ is discovered by Lithuanian police.

Philadelphia

On January 6, 2014, 2,500 bottles worth between $150,000 and $200,000 are seized by police when they detain a local attorney for selling expensive wine illegally out of his home's basement.