John Barelli, co-author of “Stealing the Show: A History of Art and Crime in Six Thefts,” has compiled a list of the five best books on real-life art heists in The Wall Street Journal.

One of the books is about an art heist that took place in Philadelphia: “Priceless” by Robert K. Wittman and John Shiffman.

In November 1988, a young man with a .25-caliber pistol entered into the Rodin Museum shortly before it closed for the day. He subsequently handcuffed the guards and stole Auguste Rodin’s “Mask of the Man With the Broken Nose” sculpture.

Robert Wittman, who had just joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier that year, worked on the case and also helped recover the sculpture.

More than 15 years later, Wittman created the FBI’s Art Crime Team. Its mission is to investigate stolen art, cultural artifacts, and antiquities.

In the book, “Priceless,” he details efforts over the years of recovering Norman Rockwell paintings, a rare Civil War battle flag, and a headdress worn by an Apache leader.

“I’d built a career catching art thieves, scammers, and black-market traders in nearly every art venue,” said Wittman.

Read more about the best books on real life art heists in The Wall Street Journal.

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