It’s like stealing history.

Art and cultural property crime—which includes theft, fraud, looting, and trafficking across state and international lines—is a looming criminal enterprise with estimated losses in the billions of dollars annually.

To recover these precious pieces—and to bring these criminals to justice—the FBI has a dedicated Art Crime Team of 16 special agents, supported by DOJ trial attorneys for prosecutions.  And it runs the National Stolen Art File, a computerized index of reported stolen art and cultural properties for the use of law enforcement agencies across the world.

Please note: U.S. persons and organizations requiring access to the National Stolen Art File should contact their closest FBI Field Office; international organizations should contact their closest FBI Legal Attaché Office.

In Depth

Initiatives & Background - Art Crime Team - National Stolen Art File - Jurisdiction/Legislation Report Stolen Art - Submit a Tip Online - Contact Your Local FBI Office - Contact Your Nearest Overseas Office Protect Your Treasures - Advice from an Art Theft Expert Other Resources - Interpol Stolen Works of Art - Museum Security Network - International Council of Museums - More

FBI Top Ten Art Crimes - Iraqi Looted and Stolen Artifacts - Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Theft - Theft of Caravaggio’s Nativity with San Lorenzo and San Francesco - Theft of the Davidoff-Morini Stradivarius - The Van Gogh Museum Robbery - Theft of Cezanne’s View of Auvers-sur-Oise - Theft of the Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney Murals, Panels 3-A and 3-B - Theft from the Museu Chacara do Céu - Theft of Van Mieris’ A Cavalier - Theft of Renoir Oil Painting