The country's biggest art thief is identified as the mastermind of theft in SP

The Civil Police of São Paulo points out that the biggest thief of works of art in Brazil was the intellectual mastermind of the theft of pieces from the Mário de Andrade Library, in the center of the capital of São Paulo, in December 2025.

According to the investigation, the man, identified as Laessio Rodrigues de Oliveira, is identified as responsible for planning the criminal action and structuring the attempt to insert the works into the clandestine art market.

Laessio is known nationally for his involvement in robberies of high historical and artistic value, and has already been the target of other investigations involving theft and illegal sale of works of art in the country.

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The police also claim that he was part of a criminal organization with division of functions between those involved, including carrying out the robbery, hiding the pieces and negotiating with intermediaries in the illegal market.

During an operation carried out this Friday (22), investigators carried out arrest and search and seizure warrants in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, when three suspects involved in the library robbery were arrested. Pictures without proof of origin and cell phones were seized and will be analyzed by forensic experts.

This morning's operation was conducted by the team from Cerco (Specialized Center for the Repression of Crimes and Miscellaneous Occurrences) from the Center, from the 1st Section of Decap (Judiciary Police Department of the Capital), under the command of delegate Ronald Quene.

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According to the police, Laessio and another person being investigated, Carlos Leandro Ferreira da Silva, had already been arrested by the Federal Police this year, in Rio de Janeiro, suspected of trying to corrupt a security agent to steal new works of art.

CNN Brasil tries to contact the defense of Laessio and Carlos. The space is open for positioning.

SP sues Interpol for theft of works of art from library | LIVE CNN

Remember the robbery at the Mário de Andrade Library
13 works of art and historical documents were stolen from the Mário de Andrade Library, in the center of São Paulo, on the morning of December 7th.

According to information from the Military Police, two armed men invaded the library and captured a security guard and an elderly couple who were visiting the place. The criminals fled towards the Anhangabaú subway.

Of the works removed, there were eight engravings from the "Jazz" series, by Henri Matisse, and five engravings by Candido Portinari, from the work "Menino de Engenho", belonging to the exhibition "From the book to the museum: MAM São Paulo and the Mário de Andrade Library", held in partnership with the MAM (Museu of Modern Art of São Paulo).

See images of the action
Security camera images obtained by CNN Brasil show two men carrying some of the works stolen from the Mário de Andrade Library down the street. In one of the recordings, it is possible to see the duo taking objects out of a car on Rua João Adolfo, in broad daylight.

After removing the works from the vehicle, the suspects go down the street and one of them leaves some paintings leaning against a wall and runs away. The other, carrying some leaves, runs in another direction. See:

https://admin.cnnbrasil.com.br/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/WhatsApp-Video-2025-12-08-at-07.28.48_b63101.mp4

Source: CNN