CATANIA, Italy—An art theft that is being called "the robbery of the century" has just been reported in Italy, where 51 artworks including a Rembrandt have been stolen from a municipal art gallery housed in the Ursino castle in Catania, on Sicily, the Guardian reports. However, the alleged theft occurred more than a decade ago.

Catania's councillor responsible for culture, Silvana Grasso brought the theft to light after she stumbled on a 1994 document while overhauling the gallery's management. The 12-line report lists the missing treasures and says the police were contacted, but it is not clear why no one involved took further action to recover the works. "The culture of the city has been raped," Grasso told the newspaper Corriere della Sera.