Stolen Quassy carousel figure resurfaces after nearly 40 years

I'm surprised that it took that long. These things are pretty niche and fairly unique. It's not quite fine art in the traditional sense, but even if you could steal a famous painting, who are you gonna sell it to?

Indeed

https://english.elpais.com/...-1985.html

How does one go from being a veterinary student to jewel thief? Damn.

Why does Radio Shack ask for your phone number when you buy batteries? I don't know.

Mitch Hedberg enters the chat with proof that he bought a donut.

There are all kinds of collectors that are hoarders. Many don't care how theses pieces came into the hands of the people they are buying from. They do not share what they have except with a trusted few. When the pass away it's not unusual that the heirs finally realize that those pieces may have been obtained illegally.Often the statute of limitations has expired, depending upon what was stolen.

Although the statute of limitations may have expired, either for the theft or the possession, it doesn't confer the right to keep the property. The rightful owner can still sue to recover it.

(And, IANAL, etc., but there may be that subsequent crimes could be committed, such as carrying the property into a new state, or selling it, and so on.)