A better riddle(20 questions)/whodunit than Albatross...

Did the glass have lipstick on it?

 

Wow, now that my mind is clear, I understand what you are trying to say. At first I thought you meant it was many robbers stealing art from a museum and each time a robber left a glass of water. Now I see it's just one guy going door to door stealing art and leaving a glass of water.

Here's the answer:

First of all, this guy has wife who is very particular and has a major case of OCD. She likes to keep the same style of glasses and a particular number at all times. If she opens the cupboard and realizes that a glass is missing, she becomes suicidal. This glass of water is important because the culprit needs to drink water to remain stealthy while robbing some art. He always leaves the damn glass in the house because he uses both hands to carry the art out. Obviously, he always forgets to hide the glass. The wife gets pissed off because she's always missing a glass at the end of the day, so everytime he decides to steal, she always goes and picks up another one of these glasses. Of course, this glass is exclusive to Bed Bath & Beyond and there's only one store in town. The authority knows that it comes from here and wait patiently until they find their man. The problem is, this is a very popular set and many families use the same one. They keep seeing this one woman buy the glass but never think anything of it because she is only 4'7'' and has very small hands. They feel there is no way she can be the robber. On the 30th day this guy decides to go steal another painting. He calls his wife to tell her mission accomplished. She asked about the glass, knowing very well he forgot it again, and he said, "Oh Sh*t, I forgot it!" She starts going mad and tells her husband that she is very ill and won't be able to go the store. If he doesn't do it, she'll cut herself. He tells her not to worry and that he will stop at Bed Bath & Beyond and pick up the glass this time for her. He goes to store and the cops are of course still waiting there. They see this guy buying one glass which is the exact same one that's always left behind at the victim's home. They are a bit puzzled because it's not a woman making this purchase. At this point he is pretty rich and drives around a Z3. Of course, there's no trunk and he is forced to place the painting in the back seat so the world can see. The cops follow him to his car and see this landscape painting and arrest him. End of story.

 

Are the thieves part of an utility company or a utility company?

 

Where can I find this story online? or some article maybe?

 

Did it happen in America?

Did it happen in the 19th century?

 

Was the water in the glass ice during the heists?

 

Did you answer the question about lipstick?

Was there a particlar brand of water or was it just tap?

Did they test the glass/water for DNA ie. saliva residue?

 

did the robber drink what he thought was water but was actually poison and just die at the scene of the crime

 

Were they the "Wet Bandits?"

 

Was the water poisonous and whoever was guarding it drank some, thus allowing the robber to steal the art? Eventually word gets around to art dealers and they set the robber up: the last guard pretends to drink it and pass out while secretly signaling the police.

 

Stole my question. My guess is that they left DNA behind...

 

Did these art thefts occur within the past 100 years?

 

Is the glass of water used to clean something? Like dentures or a glass eye?

 

My theory (this is like very movie-like or comic book-esque)

The thief is an appraiser. The people he robbed are owners of things that he was hired to appraise. The usual game plan: Go to the home of the owner (in disguise of course), appraise the artwork or antique, talks about the item, and while standing next to the item, asks the owner for a glass of water to drink. When owner comes back with the glass of water, the thief leaves the glass on the table, and at first opportunity, takes out the owner (how? I don't know) and leaves them unconscious. Then he makes off with the valuables.