Stolen: 97 rare maps
Location: Boston, Chicago, London, New Haven, New York
Year: 1998-06
Worth: $3 Million

E. Forbes Smiley was a well liked and charismatic dealer of rare maps who, over time, gained special privileges for viewing collections. When a librarian at Yale saw Smiley's X-Acto knife on the floor during one of Smiley's private sessions with the map collections, the University questioned him, and eventually contacted the authorities. Smiley was brought in for stealing 97 national treasures from around the world. Because he helped get the maps back, Smiley only spent 3.5 years in jail, but still had to pay $2.3 million in restitution.