9. Attempted Robbery of a Turkish Prayer Rug
Armed with two screwdrivers, a hammer, and two flashlights, Lorith W. Stunbaugh walked into the Metropolitan Museum of Art determined to leave with a pricey souvenir. Stunbaugh entered the museum on a Saturday night in December 1946 with other attendees of a special choral concert, officials told the New York Times. During the performance, he snuck away to the Near East exhibit on the second floor.
Once there, he found a 4 by 5-foot 17th-century Turkish prayer rug hanging from the wall by copper wires. He ripped the rug off the wall and stuck it under his coat. Thanks to the observant eye of veteran guard Dan Donovan, Stunbaugh was caught before he could leave the premises.
