Artful dodger: the man who stole The Scream

A professional footballer playing at the top club in his country had everything money could buy... but it’s what he couldn’t own – a priceless work of art – that made him attempt the heist of the century, writes James Rampton

In just 90 seconds, Pal Enger became responsible for the most outrageous robbery in Norwegian history (Sky UK)

Pal Enger enjoyed a double life of which Superman would be proud. As he explains, “By day, I was a professional footballer at the best club in Norway. By night, I was the best criminal in Norway.”

Enger underscored his credentials as an underworld genius by pulling off the crime of the century. The equivalent in this country would be David Beckham stealing the crown jewels.

On 12 February 1994, as the entire police force was preoccupied with the opening of the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Enger masterminded the most outrageous robbery in Norwegian history.