Three criminals meet in a restaurant...

Three career criminals, each of them burglars, were meeting in a restaurant to discuss recent developments in their work.

The first thief shook his head a little bit, giving his water glass a forlorn frown. "The market for gems has dried up. What little I manage to get my hands on is hard to sell, and what money I get seems to flitter away before I know what I've done with it. It is impossible to make a dishonest living these days."

The second thief shook her head a little bit more, poking at her plate with her fork. "You think that's bad? The market for trade secrets is all but gone. There are teenagers around the world who will do for fun what I used to do to feed my family. It is impossible to make a dishonest living these days."

The third thief shook his head just a little, as well, smiling softly at his friends from over his wine glass. "It pains me to hear of your troubles, friends. Would you allow me to pick up the tab today?"

The offer was met with grumbles and protests.

"How is it we're struggling to make ends meet, but you're here with your bottle of wine and your sly smile?", they asked. "Diamonds are worthless and secrets are whispered across the playgrounds, and yet here you are, hale and hearty!"

The third thief rolled his shoulders in a shrug. "Art," he said, simply.

"Art?"

"Art. There is always a market for art. Art never goes out of style. Proceeds from gemstones are fleeting; cash garnered for information is as ephemeral as the goods you barter. You steal one fine painting, however, and the money will keep you for years and years. As simple as that."

The other two thieves muttered and grumbled again, exchanging glances of doubt and disbelief, until the third thief held his hands up to silence them. He leaned in, and his companions leaned in as well, to hear his wisdom.

"It is a lesson we all learned on the playgrounds of our youth," he says. "...you know what they say: Take a picture. It'll last longer."