Recovery of Picassos major success in fight against art theft
The recovery of the two stolen Picassos in Belgrade came as a success for the forces of law and order engaged in the hard battle against the billion-pound industry of art theft.
Disappearing borders and customs checks have made the smuggling of stolen art easier, while at the same time growing affluence around the world has increased the numbers of those willing to part with their cash for some illicit art.The recovery of the two stolen Picassos in Belgrade came as a success for the forces of law and order engaged in the hard battle against the billion-pound industry of art theft.
Interpol's data base on stolen art lists some 34,000 pieces, but the true number of purloined art is probably far higher given that every year thousands of unregistered works disappear from developing countries.
The millions that can be made has attracted the attention of organised crime and organised gangs. A notorious gang called the Pink Panthers made a name for themselves with spectacular jewellery robberies in France.
Growing awareness of the scale of art theft has led to country's tightening laws, forming specialist police units and forcing auction houses and collectors to check the origins of works of art.
But for all their efforts some works disappear without trace.
Earlier this month a French art thief said that in a panic he threw a collection of stolen paintings including works by Picasso and Matisse and worth an estimated £84 million into a municipal rubbish bin. Authorities fear the paintings were crushed, and their remains ended up on a dump.
By Matthew Day
The Telegraph
