Masters most wanted
FBI sleuths have unveiled a US$600 million 'Wanted' list featuring Vincent van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci and Paul Cezanne.
The agency has compiled a list of the world's top 10 art crimes as part of an initiative aimed at speeding the recovery of priceless works and artefacts, and bringing museum thieves to justice. It includes the biggest art heist in US history and the theft of legendary works including Edvard Munch's The Scream.
'These 10 criminal cases represent losses as high as approximately US$600 million, in an industry with overall losses of up to US$6 billion a year. However, these works are considered priceless in terms of their cultural value,' the FBI said in a statement.
The FBI set up its art crime team, comprising eight special agents and two criminal prosecutors, one year ago, to work on investigations into the theft, fraud, trafficking and looting of valuable works both at home and abroad, in co-operation with foreign law enforcement agencies.
Since then, its agents have been involved in the recovery of more than 100 items of art and cultural property worth around US$40 million. Items that have been returned to their rightful owners during that time include paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, maps and antique firearms.
Other triumphs include the prosecution of a New York art forger who bought works by artists such as Paul Klee and Paul Gauguin, copied them, then reaped six-figure profits by selling both the originals and the fakes.
The FBI also tracked down a treasured 19th-century gold and silver sword, fashioned by Tiffany and Co, that was presented to an American Civil War hero by the state of New York in 1862 and stolen in 1931 from the US Naval Academy Museum. It was recovered last year following the prosecution of several appraisers on the American version of the British TV show Antiques Roadshow.
'Theft of cultural property is a worldwide problem and the FBI art theft programme and art crime team are part of the solution,' said the agency's assistant director, Chris Swecker.
'Objects of art and cultural heritage enhance all our lives, and represent a legacy of history and art for future generations. Theft of cultural property, no matter where in the world, impoverishes us all.'
Despite the high-profile nature of the crimes, investigators believe that more prominent publicity is still needed to help them track down the missing items. They have now launched a website in the hope of generating greater public interest in the problem.
'Disseminating information about these crimes through the website will bring them to the attention of the broadest possible public. We hope this encourages people with information to submit it to the tip line,' said Mr Swecker.
In addition to its top 10, the FBI's art team is also attempting to solve mysteries including a heist from the Elvis-a-Rama museum in Las Vegas last year. Among the items taken was Elvis Presley's diamond-encrusted, 41-carat Star Ruby ring, his 1955 wristwatch, a solid gold identity bracelet, a scarf bearing the logo of the Las Vegas Hilton and a gold and onyx medallion inlaid with diamonds spelling out his name.
The new website carries a message to the thieves from the FBI: 'Suspicious minds everywhere say it's too much,' it says, playing on some of the King's song titles. It's now or never, surrender, get set for some jailhouse rock.'
