FBI art theft investigator will speak at Packard hall

WARREN

Robert Wittman, an expert in catching art thieves, will lecture at Packard Music Hall, 1703 Mahoning Ave., at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, as part of the Trumbull Town Hall speakers series.

Tickets are $28 at ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000.

The son of an antiques dealer, Wittman built a remarkable law enforcement career in which he went undercover to catch art thieves, scammers and black-market traders across the globe.

He joined the FBI as a Special Agent in 1988 and was assigned to the Philadelphia Field Division. As a result of specialized training in art, antiques, jewelry and gem identification, he served as the FBI’s investigative expert in his field.

During his 20-year career with the FBI, he recovered more than $300 million worth of stolen art and cultural property, resulting in the prosecution and conviction of numerous individuals.

In 2005, Wittman helped create the FBI’s rapid deployment Art Crime Team.

In his final case, Wittman worked undercover to track the criminals behind the century’s largest unsolved art crime: the $500 million dollar theft from the Isabella Gardner Museum in Boston.