Much of the great art in UK homes is vulnerable to theft, says an expert in recovering stolen art. “Stealing this kind of art is probably the dumbest thing a thief can do. There’s no resale market for it and trying to get any kind of ransom paid is not easy. But the great houses are available to these people and they are prepared to target them. They are not taking this art for some Mr Big, they are just taking it to have it – half the time they give it away to their friends – and the police are not very good at getting these paintings back.”