http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/arttheft/arttheft.htm

National Stolen Art File

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Criminal Investigative Division
Violent Crimes and Major Offenders Section
Interstate Theft/Government Reservation Crimes Unit

The illicit trade in art and cultural artifacts has increased dramatically in recent years. This includes theft of individual works of art, illegal export of objects protected by international laws, and pillaging of archaeological sites. Art theft is an international problem requiring cooperation at all levels of law enforcement. To aid in this endeavor, the FBI established the National Stolen Art File (NSAF) to assist law enforcement agencies in resolving this ever increasing problem.

The National Stolen Art File is a computerized index of stolen art and cultural property as reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and internationally. The NSAF consists of images and physical descriptions of stolen and recovered objects, in addition to investigative case information. The primary goal of the National Stolen Art File is to serve as a tool to assist investigators in art and cultural artifact theft cases and to function as an analytical database providing law enforcement officials with information concerning art theft.

The criteria for an object to be eligible to be entered into the National Stolen Art File are as follows:
1) The object must be of artistic or historical significance; this includes fine arts, decorative arts, antiquities, Asian art, Islamic art, ethnographic objects (Native American, African, Aboriginal), archaeological material, textiles, books and manuscripts, clocks and watches, coins, stamps, musical instruments, and scientific instruments.
2) The object must be valued at $2,000 or more; or less if associated with a major crime.
3) The request must come through a law enforcement agency accompanied by a physical description of the object, a photograph of the object, if available, and a copy of any police reports or other information relevant to the investigation.

All requests for searches of the National Stolen Art File must be made through a law enforcement agency in support of a criminal investigation. Individuals or organizations in the United States wanting to access the NSAF should contact their local FBI office; foreign organizations should contact a Federal Bureau of Investigation Legal Attache office.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has no art theft unit specializing exclusively in the investigation of art cases. Art crime investigations are conducted by agents in the field who are assigned cases involving interstate or international thefts for which the federal government has investigative jurisdiction. Squads that are responsible for investigating interstate theft cases are located in each of the 56 field offices of the FBI. In addition, the FBI has more than 30 Legal Attache offices worldwide.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has primary investigative jurisdiction for all federal criminal laws except cases in which responsibility is, by statute or otherwise, specifically assigned to another agency. The FBI has responsibility for the following federal statutes:
Title 18, United States Code, Section 659 - Theft From Interstate Shipment

Makes it a federal offense to steal or obtain by fraud anything from a conveyance, depot or terminal, any shipment being transported in interstate or foreign commerce. The statute also prohibits the "fencing" of such stolen property.
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951 - Interference with Commerce by Threats of Violence (Hobbs Act)
Makes it a federal offense to obstruct interstate commerce by robbery or extortion or to use or threaten to use violence against any person or property in interstate commerce.
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2314 and 2315 - Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property
Prohibits the transportation in interstate or foreign commerce of any goods with a value of $5,000 or more knowing the goods to be stolen. These statutes also prohibit the "fencing" of such goods.
Title 18, United States Code, Section 668 - Theft of Major Artwork Makes it a federal offense to obtain by theft or fraud any object of cultural heritage from a museum. The statute also prohibits the "fencing" or possession of such objects, knowing them to be stolen.
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1170 - Illegal Trafficking in Native American Human Remains and Cultural Items Prohibits the sale of the human remains or cultural artifacts of Native Americans without the right of possession of those items in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
Title 18, United States Code, Section 641 and 2114 - Theft of Government Property Makes it illegal to steal or embezzle any government property or to commit robbery of government property. Prosecutive guidelines are established by the United States Attorney in each federal judicial district.

What to do when an art theft has been discovered:


Protect the scene of the crime and do not let staff or visitors into the area to disturb evidence. Notify your local police department immediately. Determine the last time the objects were seen and what happened in the area, or to the objects, since that time. Gather documents, descriptions and images of the missing objects and provide to the police. Follow-up on police actions and investigations to ensure that everything possible is being done.
National Stolen Art File
Federal Bureau of Investigation
IT/GRCU, Room 5096
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20535
(202)324-4192
Fax (202)324-1504