Museum theft - the ancient crafts. However, it reached its peak in the second half of the twentieth century, the beginning of "museum boom", and the rich American and Japanese collectors have pushed up the share price. In 1950, Impressionist paintings are not short of 10 thousand dollars, and Picasso was worth little more than five, then only ten years later went through hundreds of thousands of dollars. By the early seventies was over one million copies, and now it is no surprise in the price of one hundred and four million to an unidentified collector paid at auction Sotheby's for "Boy with a Pipe" by Picasso in 2004.
The art market has become international and has reached vast dimensions: each year only through the auction house is more than 700 000 items. And there is still a huge network of antique shops, army artdilerov who work with a select clientele, finally, the art of trading via the Internet. But as soon as work ends up in a museum, it "knocked out", as in most countries there is a ban on the sale or exchange of museum collections. There is a paradoxical situation - demand is growing, while supply is falling. Here a "black repartition and comes to the aid of" art theft ".
Raznolikie portraits
Annual losses from the robbers, who are museums and private collections, estimated at seven billion dollars. In the orbit of this huge business involved "serious" people: the mafia, terrorists, artdilery, brokers, lawyers, artdetektivy, museum workers, employees of insurance companies, etc.
Of course, as in any big business, not without eccentric outsiders. French waiter Breytvizer out of love for the thrill of stealing small museums in Europe 240 paintings and sculptures. In 2001, his old mother, having learned from the newspapers that his son was caught during a regular "exploits", with fright got rid of the "home of the museum." Paintings she sliced and brought to the dump, and the sculpture thrown into a river. But the waiter-kleptomaniac and his mother-vandal - tragicomic exception to the rule.
The collective image of the thief-performer who, in fact, commit theft, draw hard. Well overall the American professor, art critic, kidnapped manuscripts with notes of Petrarch from the library of the Vatican, with former officers of the GDR who, armed with Kalashnikovs, looted museums in Bosnia and Croatia? Or Benedictine monks who had stolen 26 engravings by Durer from his abode, with "strong man" (as they dubbed the police) that three-meter men broke into the churches and altars turned out to be a gang of German nurses? Perhaps only one - not limited by any moral passion for wealth. No wonder one of the most famous artdetektivov world, Charles Hill, said about his "clients": "It's not romantic heroes, and the sons of bitches."
way to steal
in 1985. In broad daylight, some armed robbers broke into the Marmottan Museum in Paris and stole 9 works. Among them - the legendary painting of Claude Monet's "Impression. Sunrise, which gave its name to the whole direction of impressionism. It was found only in Corsica in 1990.
in 1989. siren wailed in the Castle-Museum of Charlottenburg in Berlin. While protecting dumbfoundedly looking at a blank wall, where he had just hung pictures classics of German Romanticism Carl Spitzweg The Poor Poet "and" Love Letter ", the halls to the exit rolled in his wheelchair," the poor disabled people. " Под пледом у него были спрятаны обе картины общей стоимостью 2 млн. долл. Картины и «инвалида» полиция ищет до сих пор.
in 1994. At the opening day of the Winter Olympics in Norway from the National Gallery in Oslo has been stolen by one of the major works of expressionism - "Scream" Edvard Munch. A total of 50 seconds, two criminals climbed the stairs, smashed windows, tore down the painting cost $ 75 million and disappeared. Several months later, agents of Scotland Yard posing as buyers arrested the robbers. One of the perpetrators was a former professional soccer player. Case in Oslo was the loudest statement by the representative of summer sport at the Winter Olympics.
1997. The thief made his way to the roof of the gallery of the city Piacenza, pushed the skylight and hook "fished" "Portrait of a Woman" by Gustav Klimt $ 3 million in 1999. With the Saudi millionaire's yacht, moored in the French port of Antibes, Picasso's work disappeared "Portrait of Dora Maar." So far police wondering how the thief got noticed on the yacht. There is a version that he used the aqualung.
in 2002. in the Paraguayan capital Asuncion, the criminals shot shop opposite the National Museum of Fine Arts and two months digging a tunnel length of 25 meters at a depth of 3 meters. It was strengthened beams and illuminated by electric lights. They entered the museum and stole 5 pictures, including the work of Courbet and Tintoretto.
in 2003. Two criminals disguised as ordinary tourists entered the residence of the Duke Bakklyu Scotland. While one held the superintendent, the second shot over the wall painting "Madonna of the spindle, which is attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. Then the roar of sirens, they ran to the door, saying the counter visitors that they are police officers and allegedly attending training, learning and anxiety. The insurance company paid the owners of 3 million pounds. Picture is still being sought.
in 2003. At 4 am the offender climbed on construction Forests on the second floor of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, breaking glass, entered the exhibition and stole "Salieru" of Benvenuto Cellini. This salt of King Francis I of cast gold with enamel height of 26 centimeters is considered the most expensive piece of dekorativnoprikladnogo art in the world and is estimated at $ 60 million
2004. Three armed robbers in broad daylight broke into the Munch Museum in Oslo and stole another version of the painting "Scream" worth $ 45 million and the painting "Madonna" $ 25 million.
The main problem Crafts
Paintings and sculptures stolen not to admire them or feel the thrill, but to sell them. The main challenge of such a craft can be expressed in words that are attributed to Mark Twain: "Steal a white elephant - not a trick, which he later put it?" In general, as in the legal economy, the major headache - sales.
Generally recognized fact that the thieves are very happy: museums protected worse than banks, and the values there are much greater. The Louvre will always be protected worse than Fort Knox. Works of art are expensive and occupy a little space - it is superior to any product. But they are unique and too well known - is a huge disadvantage for stolen goods. Famous painting from the museum is not repainted, as the stolen Mercedes, do not cut it in pieces, as a unique diamond, not exchanged in the market, as the stolen bank notes.
The easiest way - steal the art of less expensive and known to compensate for the quality of quantity. Ninety percent of all stolen works falls into this category. Massive theft requires a high degree of organization. Small gangs, recruited from the riff-raff of all professionals, "coordinators", "broad fantasies" combing the whole country. Their victims are primarily churches and small provincial museums. Considerable values are often protected only by dilapidated door with an old castle, inventory items or non-existent, or compiled in such a way that it did not recognize, catalog no.
Stolen items received for trans-shipment points, assorted "experts" and then smuggled into one of the centers of antique trade. Most often - in London or Geneva. Here antiquarians rarely ask questions about where the tradable commodities valued at two or three thousand dollars. And for more sensitive, there are so-called "Italian method", developed by the Fascist groups in the peninsula. The money from the drug trade, they bought a few "clean" pictures, add them stolen and sold such "mixed party".
In early 1980, while still a student, an art critic, I worked in one of the groups of the Ministry of Culture of the RSFSR, which dealt with the inventory of churches. Unfortunately, we mainly take into account balances. Almost all churches several times plundered, and nobody even really knew that it was stolen - there were no photos, no smart lists. The scope of plunder was so great that even the thieves' jargon filled with new professional terms. At фене icon called "wood", Our Lady - "mother", and icons of the Moscow school - "all Moscow. The government caught on and launched a program Accounting artistic values. Among thieves, and her art, not saying a word, called Aliyev, as a responsible member of its Politburo, Heydar Aliyev. But it was too late - not masterpieces, but it is sturdy Russian icons XVII-XVIII centuries filled the antique shops of the West.
"Iron Curtain" only simplifies the task of thieves. Even if it was known that stolen, the Soviet authorities did not report the matter to Interpol and to the West in general, "not to lose face." And because it was not the museum's masterpieces, but only the "objects of worship"! But the collapse of the socialist system, too, the situation did not improve. Confusion - a paradise for looters. Eastern and Central Europe in the 90 years have been for them Klondike.
For example, 6 500 richest churches and monasteries in the Czech Republic were present terror. The bandits did not stop at nothing to possess baroque statues, paintings and precious jewel. Three priests were killed and many seriously injured. Czech Republic has lost more than ten percent of their national heritage. The databank Prague police are still listed 10 000 stolen.
Worse case in war-torn Yugoslavia. Only in Croatia were looted 250 churches. From the museum has lost some 200 000 pieces, with the lost and much of records. One of the most significant collections in the country, the State Museum in Vukovar, has lost 35 000 products. In general, war is immediately used the industry "art robbery".
Last example - Iraq. As you know, the first defeat of the Americans they have caused are not supporters of Saddam Hussein and Islamic fundamentalists, and the museum gang of thieves. Ransacked museums in Baghdad and Babylon were the first evidence that the U.S. does not control the situation in the country.
Unhappy place
Rassboro Manor House outside Dublin in Ireland. His master baronet, Sir Alfred Beit, one of the owners of the diamond company De Beers, owns one of the world's finest private collections of paintings by old masters.
The first theft - April 1974. Armed with the Irish Republican Army gang of five men broke into the house Beita. Banda-led Bridget Rose Dugdale - the daughter of director of the insurance company Lloyd's and a family friend Bet. Raiders tied the couple Bet and all the servants, and then placed in a truck 19 paintings, including the most valuable - "Lady with the maid, who writes a letter" Vermeer. A few months Dugdale taken together with the pictures in an abandoned cottage. When arrested, she offered armed resistance and received nine years in prison. After the prison changed its name and now works as a teacher.
The second theft - May 1986. At two o'clock in the morning alarm. The guard called the police, went around the building from all sides, but did not notice. Only the next morning discovered the loss of 18 paintings: including back Vermeer, Goya, Rubens and Gainsborough two. Robbery gang made Martin Cahill, nicknamed the General. Criminals specifically raised alarms. Then observe how the police search a building, and climbed into the house in a short period of time between the end of the search and the inclusion of a new alarm. 7 paintings Police soon found, along with abandoned cars, the remaining 11 went to the "looking glass" of the criminal world and have been found many years later.
The third theft - June 2001. At 12.40 am jeep rammed the front door in Rassboro. Three robbers in black masks broke into the house. There they stole a picture Bellotto and the third time, "Portrait of Madame Bachelli" Gainsborough. The whole operation took three minutes. Pictures a year later found in Dublin.
The fourth theft - September 2002. At 5 am, a siren wailed. Offenders smashed a window to the rear facade of the house. 5 stolen paintings, including Rubens' painting "The Dominican monk. The plan worked with incredible speed: several times changing machines, criminals have broken away from the police came to the rescue. Three months later, investigators seized all the pictures from dealers in Dublin. With light hand, General robbery Rassboro become something of a rite of initiation for each new leader of the Irish mafia. Family Beit decided not to tempt fate and gave most of the paintings to the National Museum in Dublin.
False biography
Adjacent to massive theft of works of the so-called "second-line". These things are indeed registered in the catalogs, but not world-famous: small paintings and sculptures, sketches and drawings. Very often it comes to archaeological finds. Everyone who came, for example, in the Cairo Museum, and he came down with the "tourist trail", and looked into the side rooms, the question inevitably arises: "How all this can understand?" Thousands of identical figures of warriors and servants, hundreds of similar to each other as two drops of water reliefs, many household items fill the entire space of the museum.
For science is a massive material, hardly described in the narrow professional articles, and for the antiques market - the desired product. If you steal the mask of Tutankhamen and Nefertiti bust, something about that tomorrow will know the whole world, and the disappearance of one of the marching soldiers, but not yet on display Metropolitan Museum, and from the store can the provincial decades. Add to that the items stolen directly from the excavations, and we are dealing already with a huge turnover of stolen goods.
However, the ancient Egyptian statue can not be sold to the "lack of personal responsibility" as an icon or oil lamp XIX century. She needs a "provenance" (from French. Provenance - «origin"), it is the history of existence, because of the Egyptian law for more than a hundred years the export of any antiquities out of the country is prohibited. So they invent a fake biography of her as a spy-illegals. And doing it not only petty thieves, but also serious artdilery. In 2000, three years was convicted head of the Association USA artdilerov Frederick Schultz. It knows all the ins and outs developed professional "legends" for smuggled from the Egyptian reliefs and statues, and then sold them through his gallery. In one of them, a collection of antiquities allegedly belonged to the family a hundred years, officials of the colonial administration in Egypt. The official and his relatives were present, but the story of the collection - a fake.
Classics of the genre
But no matter how efficient methods of mass theft and theft of things "second tier, classic crafts are world famous pieces stolen masterpieces. Since the abduction of "Mona Lisa" the general public makes judgments about the thieves from the art it is for them. Convicted for stealing century Italian carpenter Vincenzo Perugia has become famous throughout the world. However, with the "business" point of view it looks like a complete ignoramus. Perugia fell into marketing, because he could not solve the problem of "white elephant". He suggested that "Mona Lisa" respectable antiquary in Florence, tempting him with the opportunity to return the masterpiece of Leonardo from France to Italy. Antiques, even though he was a patriot, but not to such an extent as to become a receiver of stolen goods, so he surrendered to police the thief along with the picture.
There is, however, the version that Perugia was only a pawn in a clever combination, which invented the Argentine fraudster Valferno. He allegedly ordered the excellent poddelschiku six copies of the "Mona Lisa", and then hired to steal the original Perugia. After the newspapers carried the sensational news of the world of kidnapping, Valferno sold counterfeit American private collectors, who dreamed of a pearl of the Louvre.
Issuing false "La Gioconda" for the present, to steal the original fox-Argentine did not even touched in order to avoid trouble with the law. When left without the owner zany Perugia began to act at their own risk and got caught, diddled collectors realized that they cheated, but for obvious reasons, kept quiet. Valferno disappeared with millions and just before his death, already in the 30 years, spoke about the peak of his underworld career, the British journalist.
Is there a doctor but?
This story is beautiful, but hardly truthful. It is based on one of the most common myths about thefts of works of art - the myth of the collector-maniac, eager to get the museum masterpieces in his secret collection, which he alone enjoys their beauty. On behalf of the villain of the story "Father" James Bond, Ian Fleming was a collector in the press nickname "Dr. No".
In the same film, when the 007 gets into the underwater palace doctor but he sees where the stolen paintings. In the unanimous opinion of specialists, "Dr. No", which immediately credited with a regular museum theft - the fruit inflamed the imagination of journalists. In any case, nobody ever saw any of the secret collection of stolen paintings and sculptures. The millionaire, who would have dared to cooperate with criminals, would be an easy victim of blackmail. Sooner or later, the stolen thing is not in the exotic home of Dr. But, as in some quite prosaic place, like the antique shop, where, according to statistics, "float" 80%of all the museum's loss.
In 1983, however, it seemed that "Dr. No" exists. Gang of Hungarians and Italians robbed Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest. Was seven stolen paintings, among which was a masterpiece of Raphael's "Madonna Esterhazy. At the crime scene the robbers left the screwdriver made in Italy. Through their informants 3rd General Directorate of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Hungary came to the thieves compatriots, who have helped to "stray" the Italian Mafia to rob a museum. Italian carabinieri arrested "their" part of the gang.
Its leader, a certain Giacomo Morini, said that the crime was a customer Greek manufacturer, producing olive oil, Evfimos Moskohlaidis. That, of course, argued that this slander. But when pressed on the Greek police, arranged in a large suitcase paintings were planted in the garden of the monastery Egion at Athens. Likely Moskohlaidis went on a secret deal with the authorities and in such an original way back stolen goods in exchange for ending the investigation. Press quickly learned that the role of "Dr. No" 55-year-old unbooked "olive king" does not pull. Robbery, he seems to have ordered to throw dust into the eyes of creditors, naively hoping that the events in Hungary in Greece do not know.
Key figure artneppinga
The most effective method to get money for the stolen masterpiece - sell it, not a mythical "Dr. No" and the rightful owner. The threat of losing all the unique paintings or sculptures made compliant collectors and museum directors, who agree to buy. By analogy with the kidnapping newspapermen call these crimes "artneppingom. Very interested in the rapid return of stolen works and insurance companies, which have huge losses when paying multimillion-dollar insurance.
While most countries in negotiations with the thieves and the payment of ransom is prohibited, many do it secretly. In addition, there are many tricks to give a deal with criminals for a legal search of masterpieces. For example, an insurance company declares triumphantly finding her stolen things detectives and modestly adds that "criminals, unfortunately, could not be found". Artnepping requires nerves of steel from all parties involved. Directly, the parties agree is extremely rare. A key figure in such matters - the intermediary who has great diplomatic skills. As a rule, a lawyer, trusted and criminals, and the owners of stolen goods. Sometimes in this role supports the well-known private artdetektiv well-connected and in the museum, and in the criminal environment.
Typically, cases of successful artneppinga remain a mystery. Unique exception - the case of the robbery Schirn Kunsthalle in Frankfurt. In 1994, with the exhibition Goethe and Art "was stolen two paintings by William Turner's" Shadow and Darkness. The evening before the Flood "," Light and color. Morning after the Deluge "at the London Tate Gallery, as well as the painting of Caspar David Friedrich" fog bank "from a museum in Hamburg. While executing the thieves was arrested a year later, "Darkness", "Light" and "Fog", for brevity, dubbed the pictures in the press, they have not been found.
According to investigators, the theft was ordered by the head of the Serbian nationalists Arkan, who was the biggest in Europe "private army". Turner's paintings at the exhibition have been insured for 36 million dollars, and companies Axa Nordstern Art and Lloyd's had to pay the money Tate. Then the insurers moved to the right of ownership of the stolen items. However, in the case of discovery of paintings Tate could buy them back. But the years passed, and the detectives of the insurance company could find no trace of any "darkness" or "Light". Criminals waited until the dust settles.
Tate, meanwhile, successfully invested money on the stock exchange and has made $ 36 million in 47. Seeing the despair of insurers, museum workers offered them in 1998 to buy back the rights to pictures of Turner's only 12 million after that, "knowledgeable people" Tate rumor that she was ready to pay ransom. Only two of the twelve members of the Board of Trustees of the Tate knew about the operation, and besides they are two members of the gallery. The author of the project "Return" was the director of Tate, Nicholas Serota.
Soon found a mediator, make both sides happy - German lawyer Edgar Libruks. He agreed on condition that the German prosecutor's office admits his actions legal. Libruksu issued an official paper confirming that the lawyer can negotiate in the event that he would be paid by the Tate and did not get a deal for the money from the thieves. All this is very questionable from a legal point of view, but the Germans found themselves in a stupid position - in fact stolen the paintings on their territory, and they were obliged to help the British.
Libruks signed a contract with the Tate, where the recipient of five million, if successful, it is included. In fact, most of them destined for ransom, and the rest was attorneys' fees. Libruks indulged in the most desperate adventure in their lives where they were encrypted messages, travel in a car blindfolded, meeting at the safe houses and suitcases with millions in small denominations.
All suspected all, and many times an impasse in negotiations. As a result of "Darkness" was purchased in July 2000 (six months after Arkan was gunned down in Belgrade and started äåëåæêà his "legacy") and "Light" - in December 2002. However, after redemption of the first picture of the fact of its return to the museum in hiding so as not to disrupt the deal with the second.
British honestly repaid with Libruksom, but the Germans, with whom he signed a similar contract for the return of the Mist ", it inflated. Bought out a masterpiece of Caspar David Friedrich, the lawyer has not received anything from the Frankfurt Kunsthalle, except for "thank you". Only then indignant about artneppinge Libruks told reporters.
The outcome of this story is: Tate got the picture back safe and sound, and yet "earned" based on the exchange of investment and interest of about $ 36 million on net profit from the theft of the museum bought a few masterpieces, and to repair the building.
Officially, neither the Tate, or the Frankfurt Kunsthalle not recognize that bought the paintings from criminals. They insist that they paid no thieves, a lawyer. Such tactics are very questionable, and creates a precedent for future thefts. The main lesson learned robbers: better "clean" are not museums, but vystavkiblokbastery where collected masterpieces temporarily insured for amounts that significantly exceed the usual insurance. And yet - do not look for trouble with the negotiations, and wait until an insurance company, or museum "dozreyut" themselves.
insurance for negotiations
Very similar to artnepping way to use the stolen works as "insurance" for the criminals themselves. In 1990, the U.S. was robbed Boston Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Disappeared without a trace of 13 works worth $ 300 million, including the Pearl Museum - Delft Vermeer's painting "The Concert". Stealing shocked America, John Updike wrote a insightful poem "Stolen masterpieces", in the final of which the following lines:
Suffering in his wretched hiding-place,
Known only by the thief,
Probably, the prisoners are at loss:
Who we stole, and with what purpose? "
Maybe they admired in the palace of the Emir,
Or in a villa in Manila ace?
Artdetektiv Charles Hill is convinced: no emir, or Manila ace has nothing to do with it. In his opinion, Isabella Gardner Museum robbery committed people Bulger - one of the leaders of the Irish Mafia in Boston, who for many years combined mafia career with work at the FBI. However, police chiefs had changed and the authorities decided to get rid of the odious, so even gotten out of control agent. But no such luck - Bulger went into hiding. It is noteworthy that the robbery occurred in the Boston St. Patrick's Day, which the Irish as their main holiday. According to Hill, "The Concert" Vermeer and other museum items mobsters used as hostages in the negotiations with the FBI: as long as you do not touch me, they will be safe and maybe someday come back to the museum will move - my co-conspirators would destroy everything.
The best detective
Hill was born in 1947 in Cambridge in England. Father - the U.S. Air Force pilot, his mother - an Englishwoman. I finished school in England. From 1967 to 1969, fought in Vietnam in the 82 nd Airborne Division, United States. He graduated from Washington University and Trinity College in Dublin with a degree in modern history. "
He studied theology at King's College in London. He worked as a teacher of history in Northern Ireland. Since 1976 - the London police. For twenty years has gone from the simple to the Chief Constable of the Art and Antique Division of Scotland Yard.
He has hundreds of successful operations to return the stolen works. In 1993 - Return Vermeer painting "Lady with the maid, is writing a letter," Goya's "Portrait of the Actress Antonia Zarate" and other paintings stolen by generals from the estate Rassboro House. In 1995, personally played the role of the buyer and arrested the kidnappers and returned the Munch painting 'The Scream' stolen from the National Gallery in Oslo.
In 1996, helped the Czech Police smash gang of robbers and recover dozens of valuable items, including painting by Lucas Cranach of the National Gallery in Prague. In 2001, opened his own detective agency. The biggest success in the role of the private artdetektiva - return in 2002, paintings by Titian "Rest on the Flight into Egypt", stolen from the estate of Lord Bath at Longleat UK.
Masterpieces Through the Looking Glass
The invention of the original method of implementation of the stolen masterpieces thieves world too must Irishman. In 1986, the Mafia boss in Dublin, Martin Cahill, nicknamed The General personally led the robbery of the estate of Alfred Beit Rassboro House, where he is now one of the world's finest private collections. The excavation of the bandits were 18 paintings by old masters worth $ 100 million.
General decided to concentrate in the hands of the drug trade in the British Isles. The stolen works of art were to ensure that venture money. Cahill came up with an ingenious combination. Paintings, remaining in the "looking glass" of the criminal world, used it as collateral and a unique currency calculations between mafia clans in different countries.
Gabriel Metsu painting "Lady Reading a Letter" was sent to the Irish in Istanbul in exchange for a large shipment of heroin. Three paintings, including "Portrait of Madame Bachelli" Gainsborough, went to the payment of services of traffickers in London. Two landscapes by Francesco Guardi were in Miami, a "gentleman's head" Rubens went to one of the Irish terrorist groups. The four best pictures, including "The Lady with the servant, who is writing a letter to" and Vermeer's "Portrait of the Actress Antonia Zarate" Goya, General gave the Antwerp diamond dealer as collateral security for a loan, and he placed them in the repository of the Luxembourg bank.
Employed at the dealer the money was used for the purchase of the Dublin mafia bank on the island of Antigua in the Caribbean Sea and the organization of a complex system for the laundering of profits from drug trafficking, which involved the company in Norway, Germany, Cyprus and the offshore zone in the Isle of Man. Irish drugs purchased in Spain and the smuggling of imported to the UK. Police in Europe and America "caught" the stolen paintings in different countries, many years later, after the General himself in 1994, was shot in the head on the doorstep of his home, something not shared with the Irish Republican Army.
Scotland Yard, who was coordinator of the investigation, in 1997, made the case mafioso special statement, warning that the scene came out organized crime and terrorist political groups. For criminals masterpieces of art - nothing as capital for trade in drugs and arms. Scotland Yard is worried for good reason.
December 23, 2000, three armed robbers in masks entered the National Museum of Sweden in Stockholm just before its closure. While one held at gunpoint at the bottom of the machine guard, two others rushed into the halls of the second floor. There, they threatened with pistols, laid on the floor attendants and the spectators, was seized previously designated pattern and rushed to the exit. At the channel near the museum robbers waiting boat, which they fled.
At the time of robbery to the police call about a dozen people to panic about allegations that a remote area of the city allegedly burning cars and riots occur. It was a diversionary tactic. While the police to find out what kind of fire, taking all the phone lines, while the patrol and riot police on a false alarm raced to the outskirts of Stockholm, the museum robbers smoothly assimilated into the night. When, finally, revya sirens, cars with flashing lights pulled up to the museum, they slashed the tires on iron thorns that thieves prudently dropped on the pavement.
Extraction of criminals - two paintings by Renoir and a Rembrandt worth more than $ 50 million crime was so brilliantly organized that the investigation was immediately deadlocked. Came about by accident - in April 2001, the police laid participants selling large quantities of drugs, in which the payment was offered stolen in Stockholm, "Conversation with the gardener" by Renoir. Singers theft was arrested, but the rest of the picture, who left in the "shadow economy" of the criminal world, found in Denmark and the United States only by September 2005.
The ten best films of the theft of works of art
1. But the doctor.
1962. United Kingdom-United States. Director: Terence Young. Cast: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman.
2. Happy thieves.
1962. USA. Director: George Marshall. Cast: Rita Hayworth, Rex Harrison.
3. Topkapi.
1964. USA. Director: Jules Dassin. Cast: Melina Mercouri, Peter Ustinov.
4. Gambit.
1966. USA. Directed by: Ronald Niamh. Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine.
5. How to Steal a Million.
1966. USA. Director: William Wyler. Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Peter O'Toole.
6. Return of "St. Luke».
1970. USSR. Director: Anatoly Bobrowski. Cast: Vsevolod Sanaev, Vladislav Dvorzhetsky, Oleg Basilashvili.
7. Zong heng si hai.
1991. Hong Kong. Director: John Woo. Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Leslie Chung, Cherie Chung.
8. General.
1998. Britain-Ireland. Director: John Boorman. Cast: Brendan Gleeson.
9. Trap.
1999. United States-United Kingdom. Director: John Emiel. Cast: Sean Connery, Catherine Zeta-Jones.
10. Sting Thomas Crown Affair.
1999. USA. Director: John McTiernan. Cast: Peter Brosnan, Rene Russo.
loophole for thieves
Apart artneppinga and "Looking-Glass" can not be discounted prosaic sale in private collections and even museums. And it is done legally. To avoid problems with the law passionate lovers of art helps a very confusing situation with the law.
Who owns the stolen work of art? You might say - of course, the victim of a robbery. But if it were that simple! It turns out that in this issue is a significant difference between most European countries, the legislation which are rules of the Code Napoleon, and the countries of Anglo-Saxon world.
In Britain and its former colonies, including, of course, and the United States, the principle of Roman law: "No one can transfer to another more rights than a". This means that no one can sell or give to another property that was not his. Therefore, before the law, the owner of the stolen works of art is the one who has it stolen.
It is not certainly the case in continental Europe or Japan. Here, the thief has a chance to "launder" stolen, if he managed to find a buyer, so-called "good faith purchaser. A man who legally, observing all formalities, buying stolen product, in the case of claims of its former owner is entitled to a refund. Moreover, compensation paid mugged by the owner, because the thief has long gone.
It is believed that the bona fide purchaser "did not know and could not know" the criminal history of their purchases, and difficult to prove otherwise. Even if the theft of the press trumpeted around the world, he can say he tried to inquire about the fate he has bought the picture, but to no avail, and not watching TV or at the time of theft was in the country, where the message was not there. But you never know what might come up with a good lawyer for a good fee?
But that's not all: after a certain period of bona fide purchaser becomes full owner of the stolen masterpiece. In Italy, this term is minimal, and Japan - two years, and in France - three. Russia also protects the interests of bona fide purchaser. True, he should openly own bought the thing, "delivering" it to the exhibition. And the deadline for the introduction of its ownership of an impressive - 20 years.
The classic demonstration of the different approaches to the theft was the case with a fragment of mosaic VI century, stolen from the church in the Turkish part of Cyprus. The mosaic in 1988, bought in Switzerland for $ 1 million a collector from the United States. The Turkish government has learned the whereabouts of stolen works and demanded its return. Swiss law recognizes the absolute owner American prison on the basis of the fact that it is officially paid the real price of the mosaic. But the court her native Indianapolis sided with the Turks and in 1991 decided to return the stolen goods to Cyprus.
But even if you are lucky and your business is considering a court of one of the Anglo-Saxon countries, do not hurry to rejoice. The question is, what law it will apply. In 1979 in England was stolen collection of Japanese art. The thief had brought her to Italy and then sold to a bona fide purchaser. In 1980 he sent a collection to the auction Christie's in London. Robbed the owner, referring to English law, required to return the value to him. But he probably was not familiar with the Russian proverb: "The law that the shaft, where you turn, there it comes." Italian to English lawyers persuaded the court that in this case working Italian law under which their client has already become the legal owner of stolen goods. Accidental Englishman in complete impotence watched his collection went under the hammer.
In 1995, the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law UNIDROIT (UNIDRUA) developed the Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects. The purpose of this document - to plug loopholes for thieves in international law, which remained after the adoption of the UNESCO convention of 1970, and finally create a unified legal framework for combating organized crime in this area. The principal provision of the Convention states that the stolen product must be returned to the original owner in any case.
Bona fide purchaser is entitled to compensation, but now that you have recognized as such, should strongly try. We have to prove not only that you did not know that the product of stolen goods, but also what you made every effort to ascertain its origin, but have not managed to get to the truth or had been deceived. This purchase is necessary to possess open. Claims for refund is valid for three years from the date of detection of the object owner and within 50 years from the date of theft. They can produce not only the state, as required by the UNESCO Convention in 1970, but a private person. Under special circumstances, the limitation period may be extended to 75 years or more.
It seems to be all right, and nobody would dare not openly deny the need to combat the theft of art, but around the adoption of the convention no boy battle unfolded. Countries, museums are crammed with masterpieces, looted in colonial wars, fear that they will have to return the booty ancestors. Is there a good reason. For example, Greece is seeking for himself the exclusive statute of limitations in 5 000 years, that awe-inspiring of all the directors of antique collections. Actively lobby for adoption of the convention insurance companies, which each year are forced to pay $ 1 billion plundered owners only in the British Isles. Artdilery, by contrast, loudly protested, predicting the end of the antique market.
As a result of a convention signed by only 22 countries and only 11 of them have ratified it and brought its legislation into conformity with its requirements. For incomprehensible reasons, Russia, by signing this document is one of the first, is still holding up ratification.
Almighty "artskvody»
While the debate continues, in the fight against theft than-completely perfect laws, relying on the skill of the staff of special units. The first special service "Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage" created in 1969 by the Italians. She now has over one hundred specialists with higher education and mandatory knowledge of foreign languages. They not only regularly shoot at the shooting range and learn about new items criminology, but constantly improved in the history of art and museum practice.
Reputation artkarabinerov very high. They returned more than 150 000 stolen from the museums of art and over 300 000 archaeological finds. Italian masterpieces hunters traditionally strong network of informants primarily artbiznese and are renowned for rigidity during special operations. Incidentally, it artkarabinery just two months found 18 paintings from the Tretyakov Gallery, stolen from an exhibition in Genoa in 1991.
He was famous for its professionalism and "artskvod" Scotland Yard. His firm reception - the introduction of agents in the environment of criminals. This is the "mole" disentangled the intricate combination Cahill. There is no equal to the British and the preparation of fake buyers. The police play a role in either the representatives of museums, ready to "dirty" deal, or shady average hand, which teems with an antique world of London and New York. Sometimes, to lull the thieves, are antique front companies and even banks.
In Russia, a unified service to combat the theft of works of art there, but special departments set up in the Interior Ministry and FSB. In the analytical work of actively assisting the Ministry of Culture. All play an important role not only national police, but the International Criminal Police Organization - Interpol. Since 1991, the Interpol National Central Bureau has been successfully operating in Russia. For example, in August 2005 with his help have been returned to Russia, an icon of the XVI century "Virgin Hodegetria" stolen in 1994 from a museum in Ustyuzhna.
In a globalizing world, the main weapon to combat thefts of works of art is not the gun the police, and a computer researcher.
In 1991 in London, a retired police officer James Emson organized Art Lost Register - «Art Loss Register. This is a private company started with just eight people. At her feet helped get the insurance company, which is particularly hard blow wave of robberies. Basis of the ALR - the computer data bank of almost 120 000 of the missing pieces. Employees of the company "tracking" stolen goods in the vast antique market in the world, using open sources of information: the Internet, catalogs, press.
ALR Services serves more than 270 insurance companies. In addition to them in the number of clients are auction houses and private collectors who do not want to purchase "swoop" on the stolen works. Police access to data is free. Already we have offices ALR in New York, Cologne and St. Petersburg. Through the company found more than 3 000 of stolen goods. ALR is now not alone.
Its rosters are the police in many countries. Database "Antiques" is in the Ministry of Russia, it collected information on 48 thousand stolen in our country works. Data Bank at the General Secretariat in Lyon, actively adds to Interpol. Every year it produces a disk with data on 20 000 most valuable loss. The main task today - to unify information about thefts and to maximize and accelerate its spread. It now depends on this, play the detectives whether the thieves who have learned to quickly remove stolen abroad and sell away from the crime scene. Meanwhile, press reports about art theft, similar to reports of fighting.
Grigorii Kozlov.
www.cripo.com.ua
14.05.2009, 12:05
Art theft
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