Changes

== Thefts ==

== Thefts ==

The painting has been the target of many high-profile thefts, including an embarrassing heist on February 12, 1994, the opening day of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. Four men smashed windows to enter the Munch Museum, ripped the painting off the wall and left a note reading "Thanks for the poor security."<ref>http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/5/7</ref> Museum authorities were harshly criticized the lax security protecting the painting, especially after a police investigation revealed the theft took just 50 seconds and was done with basic tools. The painting was eventually recovered after a complex undercover operation undertaken by Scotland Yard's "art squad."<ref>''The Rescue Artist: A True Story of Art, Thieves, and the Hunt for a Missing Masterpiece'' by Edward Dolnick</ref>

The painting has been the target of many high-profile thefts, including an embarrassing heist on February 12, 1994, the opening day of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. Four men smashed windows to enter the Munch Museum, ripped the painting off the wall and left a note reading "Thanks for the poor security."<ref>http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/5/7</ref> Museum authorities were harshly criticized for the lax security protecting the painting, especially after a police investigation revealed the theft took just 50 seconds and was done with basic tools. The painting was eventually recovered after a complex undercover operation undertaken by Scotland Yard's "art squad."<ref>''The Rescue Artist: A True Story of Art, Thieves, and the Hunt for a Missing Masterpiece'' by Edward Dolnick</ref>

An even more daring heist occurred in 2004 when armed thieves pulled the painting off the wall in broad daylight during museum hours. The thieves were photographed fleeing the museum with the canvas, but were not caught. The painting was recovered two years later.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5303200.stm</ref>

An even more daring heist occurred in 2004 when armed thieves pulled the painting off the wall in broad daylight during museum hours. The thieves were photographed fleeing the museum with the canvas, but were not caught. The painting was recovered two years later.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5303200.stm</ref>

Norwegian authorities have expressed puzzlement at the continued thefts since the painting is so widely recognizable that it would be nearly impossible to sell.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/12/newsid_3591000/3591994.stm</ref>

Norwegian authorities have expressed puzzlement at the continued thefts since the painting is so widely recognizable that it would be nearly impossible to sell.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/12/newsid_3591000/3591994.stm</ref>

==In popular culture==

==In popular culture==