NCJ Number
186568
Date Published
2000
Length
306 pages
Annotation
This field manual on art theft and forgery investigation discusses the art world environment, police interaction with the victim, offender characteristics and methods, and specialized art crime solution techniques.
Abstract
Following an introductory chapter, a chapter provides an overview of the art world. The discussion encompasses what constitutes art, art history, how to determine what an art object is worth, and the complex operations of the art world. Finally, the chapter describes the current state of the art theft problem and the art forgery problem. Seven chapters then focus on the victim interview. One chapter provides a checklist for the crime scene investigation. Other chapters in this section consider the kinds of information that should be solicited from the victim, including when and why the art was stolen, faked, or illegally handled; the kind of descriptive information needed about the object that was stolen or faked; why the object that was stolen might have been targeted from among other objects accessible to the thief or forger; and victim opinions about who might have been the culprit. One chapter offers suggestions for how the victim may further assist in investigations. Four chapters then address offender characteristics, the criminal methods of art thieves and art forgers, and the selling methods and behavior of stolen-art fences and art forgery distributors. Fourteen chapters provide guidelines for case solutions and theft recoveries. These chapters are further subdivided into five sections, each with multiple chapters. These subdivisions deal with an overview of investigative resources and methods; how to use various types of resources to make strategic persons aware of the theft and marshal various means to spot the stolen or forged art in the marketplace; the identification and interviewing of suspects; the use of informants and undercover methods; and how to manage recovered and found objects. 52 figures, a 125-item bibliography, a glossary, a subject index, and appended supplementary information