11.   So far the police have not been able to establish whether the paintings were taken for ransom.

12.   Soon afterward Saito sent shivers through the art world when he said he intended to take the paintings to his grave, literally.

13.   Some of the agents joked that they should take the painting, chop it up and sell it like so many pieces of the Berlin wall.

14.   The paintings were taken anyway, for a nationwide tour that drew huge crowds.

15.   The painting was taken from Tsurumaki as his business empire crumbled and was stored in the warehouse of Mitsui Trust for a time.

16.   They take the paintings away.

17.   Police also said the thieves took a painting by Bellini, but it was not immediately known which of several Italian artists with that surname had done the work.

18.   Donaldson said there had been no statements from persons or groups claiming to have taken the painting.

19.   Farmer is credited by Germany with being instrumental in keeping the occupying U.S. Army from taking paintings by Rembrandt, Duerer, Botticelli and other masters as war booty.

20.   One of their German customers took a painting to a fair in Hamburg, Germany.