About the Cultural Property Program

INTERPOL has disseminated information pertaining to cultural property since 1947, focusing on the publication and distribution of international stolen property notices; maintaining a computerized cultural property database; and tracking modus operandi information which includes individuals and/or businesses suspected of trafficking in, receiving, or smuggling cultural property.

INTERPOL Stolen Property Notices contain descriptions and photographs of stolen, seized and/or suspect cultural property reported to the INTERPOL Secretariat General by an INTERPOL member country. The Notices receive worldwide distribution to UNESCO - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; ICOM - the International Council of Museums; WCO - the World Customs Organization; as well as to all INTERPOL member countries, which distribute the Notices to Police Forces, Customs Services, Museums, Art Dealers and others.

The U.S. National Central Bureau of INTERPOL also maintains a computerized cultural property database and routinely forwards cultural property information to various law enforcement agencies, the USNCB State Liaison Offices, and art organizations throughout the United States. In addition, the USNCB provides cultural property reports received from U.S. law enforcement agencies to the INTERPOL Secretariat General so that an international stolen property notice can be issued.

The Secretariat General publishes a special bi-annual bulletin, The Wanted Works of Art, to promote greater awareness of cultural property theft.

The annual dollar value of art and cultural property theft is exceeded only by trafficking in illicit narcotics, money laundering, and arms trafficking.

INTERPOL is committed to combating cultural property crime, and preserving national heritages, through mutual cooperation and rapid information exchange. For additional information about the Cultural Property Program, please refer to the Interpol website at http:/www.interpol.int/Public/WorkOfArt/Default.asp.

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Report the Loss or Theft of  Cultural Property

The U.S. National Central Bureau is prohibited from processing requests from individuals and organizations, other than law enforcement entities.

To report the loss or theft of fine art or other cultural property, contact your state or local police, or the FBI.  Provide as complete a physical description as possible, including any numbers, trademarks, or other markings; color photograph(s); circumstances of loss or theft; value of the item; history of the item if relevant; and any other pertinent information available.

Police recommend using the Getty Object ID Checklist to describe lost or stolen art.  This is the standard method developed by the Getty Information Institute.  Please tell the police if you want the loss or theft reported to the FBI or to INTERPOL on your behalf.

U.S. law enforcement: Forward complete details of the loss or theft, including police report, to your INTERPOL Liaison Office for forwarding to the INTERPOL-U.S. National Central Bureau.   INTERPOL publishes an International Stolen Property Notice for a given item only if there is sufficient identification information and if the item is either of substantial commercial or cultural value, or was stolen under particularly serious circumstances.

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Last updated: 12/19/06
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