FBI Art Crime Team

Did you know that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation is celebrating its centenary this year? In 2004 the FBI established a rapid deployment Art Crime Team (ACT) comprising 13 Special Agents trained in art and cultural property investigations. So far ACT has recovered over 850 items of cultural property worth more than $134 million, including Francisco de Goya's 1778 painting Children With A Cart (CLICK). In 2005 ACT issued its FBI Top Ten Art Crimes (CLICK) with a novel collage of the stolen works. At least three of these works have since been recovered, though not as a result of ACT intervention: The Scream (CLICK), Cellini's Salt Cellar (CLICK) and Madonna With The Yarnwinder (CLICK). Happy birthday, FBI. Isn't it time ACT issued a new Top Ten Art Crimes collage?