Phantom drawing and jewel thief: Who is Schafroth really?

Phantom drawing and jewel thief: Who is Schafroth really?

In recent months there have been some turbulent events in the world of art and jewelry that have captivated not only the professional world but also the general public. The case of a wanted jewel thief, who has a spectacular robbery in the background, attracts particular attention. Loud ZDF is Schafroth, a jewelry thief of questionable reputation, who has been in hiding since a robbery in a luxurious hotel ten years ago. During the investigation, Oswald Greimer, a retired phantom artist, is targeted by the police because he protected Schafroth with a false phantom image. The whole scenario becomes even more exciting with the involvement of Felizitas Bach, the jewel thief's ex-partner, who also figures into the investigation.

In addition, Dr. Baumgartner is holding an art exhibition by the “Rosenheim city illustrators”, in which a drawing by Peggy Meising showing a weathered wall in the Jesuit garden is the center of attention. It is exciting to suspect that Schafroth may have buried jewelry from an amazing raid in southern France there. Could it be that the wall holds little secrets that might lead to the long-sought treasures?

The shadows of the past

In the context of these criminal activities, one particularly notorious incident stands out: the theft of jewels in the Historic Green Vault in Dresden, which took place on November 25, 2019. How Wikipedia reported, the perpetrators stole several art objects and 21 pieces of jewelry, and the insured value of the stolen goods amounted to a whopping 113.8 million euros. The perpetrators used sophisticated methods to break into the museum, resulting in an unprecedented robbery. During the break-in, which lasted just a few minutes, the thieves also endangered security forces who were on site but were not allowed to intervene.

The aftermath also makes you sit up and take notice. The trial against six defendants from the extended Remmo family began on January 28, 2022 and ended in May 2023 with convictions for five of the suspects. In addition, the Free State of Saxony spent around 3.8 million euros on legal costs - a good example of the financial burden that such raids entail.

A look beyond the borders

A robbery in the Louvre that took place on October 19, 2025 was similarly spectacular. The criminal procedure is similar to that in Dresden and shows that the security precautions in renowned museums are often incomplete. According to an article by Deutschlandfunk culture Four perpetrators managed to break into the museum by disguising themselves as construction workers and parking a truck with a lifting platform. Once inside, they broke open two display cases and stole several valuable pieces of jewelry with historical value.

The security deficiencies discovered at the Louvre are alarming. A lack of surveillance cameras and underpaid security personnel contribute to a climate in which such thefts can occur again and again. Trade unions have already pointed out these grievances, while President Emmanuel Macron has approved state funds for the urgently needed renovation of the museum.

It remains to be seen whether and how the investigations in the various cases will progress. What is certain, however, is that the world of art and jewelry continues to be in the crossfire of criminals who are after the special glamor.