Rick Abagent News Today

Isabella stewart gardner museum in boston. this is where it all began, the night of march 18th, 1990. it was st. patricks day weekend. there was a house party at the building right behind the museum. sometime after midnight, a group of young men left the party and spotted a car with what looked like two boston police officers inside. they had no idea these two men werent really police officers. and no clue that just a short time later these two men would pull off the greatest art heist in histor...

Going back and forth a half dozen times, again, passing things that any art expert would say, my god, these are two rafaels, small and portable. why wouldnt you take those, its a great mystery to the theft. >> reporter: at 2:41 a.m., the door to the museum opens and closes. the thieves were gone. >> once they believe, theyre never heard from again. >> reporter: the next morning, rick was relieved to be found. and to be alive. but he knew almost immediately that he was a suspect. >> i knew i woul...

Desk and away from the panic button. his only way to contact the outside world. his only way to prevent what was about to happen. in a matter of minutes, the two thieves had both night watchmen completely under their control. >> he finished cuffing me, and he cuffed my partner and very dramatically said, "gentlemen, this is a robbery." >> reporter: the thieves lead rick and his partner down to the basement to different areas. rick is taken to the boilerroom and cuffed to an electrical box. his e...

Time later these two men would pull off the greatest art heist in history. >> come in, clock in, there would be two guards. >> reporter: rick abagent was one of the night watchmen on duty the night of the crime. until now, he had never done a television interview about what happened that night. >> cops were at the hotel. they said boston police, weve got a report of a disturbance on the premises. so i buzzed them in. >> reporter: that decision to buzz them in is something rick abath has had to l...

There was a house party at the building right behind the museum. sometime after midnight, a group of young men left the party and spotted a car with what looked like two boston police officers inside. they had no idea these two men werent really police officers. and no clue that just a short time later these two men would pull off the greatest art heist in history. >> come in, clock in, there would be two guards. >> reporter: rick abagent was one of the night watchmen on duty the night of the cr...

So i buzzed them in. >> reporter: that decision to buzz them in is something rick abath has had to live with for the past 23 years. >> the cop that was dealing with me turned to me and said, dont i know you, dont i recognize you? i think there is a warrant out for your arrest. can you step out from behind the desk. >> reporter: here rick makes another grave mistake. he steps away from the security desk and away from the panic button. his only way to contact the outside world. his only way to pre...

I know you, dont i recognize you? i think there is a warrant out for your arrest. can you step out from behind the desk. >> reporter: here rick makes another grave mistake. he steps away from the security desk and away from the panic button. his only way to contact the outside world. his only way to prevent what was about to happen. in a matter of minutes, the two thieves had both night watchmen completely under their control. >> he finished cuffing me, and he cuffed my partner and very dramatic...

>> reporter: at 2:41 a.m., the door to the museum opens and closes. the thieves were gone. >> once they leave, they were never heard from again. >> reporter: the next morning, rick was relieved to be found. and to be alive. but he knew almost immediately that he was a suspect. >> i knew i was. i mean, i opened up the door. you know? i mean -- once i sat -- sat down with the fbi, i think the first thing i said is what do you want to know? because i knew. i mean, i was like, well, im the guy who o...