The statute of limitations is just a limitation on prosecuting them and sending them to prison for theft. There is no time limitation on recovering stolen property. Museums have been forced to return property that was stolen even after being in the museum's possession for over 200 years.
IANAL, but... Additionally, the statute of limitations may not apply in cases where the government is suing in civil court in its capacity to "protect public interest" unless the statute of limitations is specifically applied that way in the defining law. This apparently dates back to England and the "rights of the Sovereign".
And someday the Cajuns will recover Acadia.
Good point, I thought about that after I was in bed.
And families of those that died in the Holocost also have been getting back works of art.