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The Thief in the Liars’ Club

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A valuable painting was stolen from the Liars’ Club, but the police are having a hard time identifying the culprit because every statement made by a member of the Liars’ Club is false. Only four members visited the club on the day that the painting was stolen. This is what they told the police:

  • Ann: None of us took the painting. The painting was here when I left.
  • Bob: I arrived second. The painting was already gone.
  • Chuck: I was the third to arrive. The painting was here when I arrived.
  • Tom: Whoever stole the painting arrived before me. The painting was already gone.

Who of these four liars stole the painting?

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pnikam Expert Asked on 18th August 2015 in Puzzles.
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    • 1 Answer(s)

    Since every statement is false, let us convert them into true statements, and number each statement:

    • Ann: 1) One of us took the painting. 2) The painting was gone when I left.
    • Bob: 3) I arrived first, third, or fourth. 4) The painting was still here.
    • Chuck: 5) I arrived first, second, or fourth. 6) The painting was gone when I arrived.
    • Tom: 7) Whoever stole the painting arrived after me. 8) The painting was still here.

    According to statement #7, Tom is not the thief. #8: Since the painting was there when Tom arrived, he could not have been the last to arrive. Tom must have gone there first, second, or third. #6: The painting was gone when Chuck was there, so he didn’t arrive first. #5: So Chuck got there second or fourth. #4 and #8: As two other members (Bob and Tom) arrived to see the painting, Chuck didn’t get there second, either. So Chuck arrived fourth. #3: This means Bob arrived first or third. #2: Since the painting was gone when Ann left, she didn’t arrive first. Otherwise, no member after her would have seen the painting. So Ann went there second or third and Chuck arrived fourth. But since two other members (Bob and Tom) saw the painting when they arrived, Ann didn’t go there second, either. So Ann arrived third. #3: Therefore, Bob arrived first, and Tom arrived second.

    In summary, Bob arrived first. Tom got there next and the painting was still there, so Bob was not the thief, and neither was Tom. When Ann arrived, the painting was still there, but it was gone when she left. So Ann was the one who stole the painting. Chuck arrived last and discovered that the painting was gone.

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    anikam Expert Answered on 18th August 2015.
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