I found more than just the article quoted, such as this:

The Stockholm robbery followed this pattern with the Swedish police recovering one of the paintings within a year of its theft. However, as often happens the recovery came about not because of great detection work into the art theft itself, but during raids carried out on known drug traffickers who although not involved in the actual robbery, provide us with further evidence of the link between art theft and drug trafficking

but I didn't want to make the question on AskMe even more text-heavy than it is.

It seems, though, that maybe a fairly localized crime syndicate would probably see the benefit in stealing the work(s) if they happened onto the right low-risk opportunity; I just can't quite figure out the mechanics of how they would work it. (Not the theft, but dealing with the goods!).

I'm helping a friend with a screenplay

Sure you are, taz. Sure you are.

heh. growl. You bunnies will help me steal art and make it worth my while... or I'll see you in HELLLLL!

Think in terms of blackmail/ransom. The thieves ought not to be looking to sell it, but to use ownership of it as leverage. Spike Lee's latest joint should be a good inspiration. Have someone know exactly why *this* work of art is being stolen. There are then all sorts of levels of knowledge. The planner, the recipient, the thieves, the boss thief, etc. You can keep the audience switching between these.

Then you can have the actual perpetrators confused about the reason for the theft. That makes for conflict, and conflict = drama.

i do, in fact, have old, loose plans for a DC museum heist with lots of secret sign signs, etc. but then the whole writing it here might, oh, ruin it.

let's just say it's all about timing and distraction, and a see through atrium doesn't hurt.

I want you to know I expect a best answer on this.

Okay... let's just say that an organized crime syndicate in a fairly large city of a fairly small eastern european country happened to get their hands on one or more internationally known masterpieces. What would they do with it/them?

this is where you hide them or enters the "shifty" element--

they know who the high-priced call girls are. The call girls know who the rich art collectors are. Alternately, mob-run bars, galleries that pay protection, a mafioso with a brother who digs art, etc.

What would they do with it? Burn'em like those fools did with Edvard Munch's work (as is believed now - The Scream and Madonna have been burned).

They'd try to contact a go-between or locate the collector who contracted for the theft in the first place. If unsuccessful, they'd burn it.

Of course, when they contact your protagonist through a case of mistaken identity instead of the real go-between, things go horribly wrong.