London
A painting by John Linnell, The Wildflower Gatherers, 1831, was stolen from the British Galleries at the Victoria and Albert Museum on the afternoon of 14 March; the police were immediately called. The loss was not publicised. CCTV images helped identify the thief and the work was recovered in September, and an arrest made. Gary Doyle pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court on 13 November, and was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment. An Etty painting was stolen in September 2006 from the V&A, and recovered a week later, and a further three thefts occurred at the end of 2004.
Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper as 'Daylight robbery at the V&A'