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Why Figures for Art Theft may be Dramatically Understated
Bill Anderson, Art Guard
FOR QUITE SOME TIME $6 BILLION has been the default figure for art ........................................................................................................................................................................ As the art market grows internationally,
stolen annually, worldwide. Two former FBI agents, Robert Spiel and Gregg organizations with art crime experience
McCrary, proffered this number nearly 10 years ago. The figure has not have found it hard to keep pace. This
changed since, even as the art market has exploded, making it highly suspect. includes the most prominent—the FBI,
Several factors contribute to the probability that it is perpetually understated. Interpol, Scotland Yard and the art division
of the Italian police, the Carabinieri.
Organizations directly involved in recovery and prosecution of art theft crimes They can only encourage reporting by
work at the same disadvantage as anyone endeavoring to understand the victims. Many police agencies lack the
size of the market and its losses. Even though the market has become more knowledge to adequately pursue thefts.
transparent through auction and gallery sales, the desire to authenticate The only police department in the entire
works and better sharing of information, many of the same issues cloud its U.S. with knowledge of art and proper
dimensions. Ownership and transactions may still remain discreet for reasons tools to address theft is the LAPD, after
of privacy and taxation. Dealing with the loss of a piece of art becomes a the NYPD’s highly regarded “art cop” left.
double-edged sword. Highly publicized thefts of extremely valuable work Having familiarity with art and recovery
can alert the broader art market, making it difficult, but not impossible, to methods and gaining the faith of the
sell a work for close to its estimated value. However, as I have said before public to feel there is any reason to even
there are plenty of thieves, whether well organized gangs or petty criminals, report a theft are first steps.
satisfied with far less remuneration for a stolen piece or willing to keep it
hidden until an opportunity arises to sell it, during which time its fate can With the rapid expansion of
become even more questionable. the art market it is extremely
likely that theft numbers are
Many victims never report the loss in order to avoid a host of unpleasantries, increasing nearly as quickly as
from unwanted publicity to financial exposure. Organizations of any stripe transactions. Since we lack real
charged with safekeeping surely don’t want to bring attention to their clarity of the magnitude are we
mismanagement of a collection, whether they depend on private or public
funding. Much of museum theft is by insiders, and these incidents will never ?just ignoring the risk
see the light.
If the works are not adequately insured it’s likely that no accurate appraisal
has been done. And if they are insured and a loss is experienced, insurers are
under no obligation to add to our understanding of the problem by revealing
figures for theft.
2
Bill Anderson, Art Guard
FOR QUITE SOME TIME $6 BILLION has been the default figure for art ........................................................................................................................................................................ As the art market grows internationally,
stolen annually, worldwide. Two former FBI agents, Robert Spiel and Gregg organizations with art crime experience
McCrary, proffered this number nearly 10 years ago. The figure has not have found it hard to keep pace. This
changed since, even as the art market has exploded, making it highly suspect. includes the most prominent—the FBI,
Several factors contribute to the probability that it is perpetually understated. Interpol, Scotland Yard and the art division
of the Italian police, the Carabinieri.
Organizations directly involved in recovery and prosecution of art theft crimes They can only encourage reporting by
work at the same disadvantage as anyone endeavoring to understand the victims. Many police agencies lack the
size of the market and its losses. Even though the market has become more knowledge to adequately pursue thefts.
transparent through auction and gallery sales, the desire to authenticate The only police department in the entire
works and better sharing of information, many of the same issues cloud its U.S. with knowledge of art and proper
dimensions. Ownership and transactions may still remain discreet for reasons tools to address theft is the LAPD, after
of privacy and taxation. Dealing with the loss of a piece of art becomes a the NYPD’s highly regarded “art cop” left.
double-edged sword. Highly publicized thefts of extremely valuable work Having familiarity with art and recovery
can alert the broader art market, making it difficult, but not impossible, to methods and gaining the faith of the
sell a work for close to its estimated value. However, as I have said before public to feel there is any reason to even
there are plenty of thieves, whether well organized gangs or petty criminals, report a theft are first steps.
satisfied with far less remuneration for a stolen piece or willing to keep it
hidden until an opportunity arises to sell it, during which time its fate can With the rapid expansion of
become even more questionable. the art market it is extremely
likely that theft numbers are
Many victims never report the loss in order to avoid a host of unpleasantries, increasing nearly as quickly as
from unwanted publicity to financial exposure. Organizations of any stripe transactions. Since we lack real
charged with safekeeping surely don’t want to bring attention to their clarity of the magnitude are we
mismanagement of a collection, whether they depend on private or public
funding. Much of museum theft is by insiders, and these incidents will never ?just ignoring the risk
see the light.
If the works are not adequately insured it’s likely that no accurate appraisal
has been done. And if they are insured and a loss is experienced, insurers are
under no obligation to add to our understanding of the problem by revealing
figures for theft.
2
