Stolen Art Investigations

More than 11 billion dollars is the estimated value of the art pieces stolen throughout the world every year - and this does not take into account the looting of archeological sites. In Europe, more than 60 thousand art objects are stolen each year. 

Artistic heritages are priceless - to nations and to families. The criminal activity associated with these thefts, on a worldwide basis, ranks second only to traffic in illegal drugs.  Traffic in stolen art, previously limited to specialized criminals, is increasingly associated with more general criminal activity since stolen art can be used in schemes for money laundering.

Also, modern communication methods like Internet and more rapid and easier international commerce have opened new opportunities for this kind of traffic.

On this last point, it is interesting to note that, concerning thefts from private individuals, a certain number of objects that were stolen years or even decades ago are now re-appearing, either at official sales or in transactions between individuals via Internet.  Indeed, after several sales cycles, it is very difficult to establish that an object is, in fact, stolen property.  Very often the sellers believe that they are indeed the rightful owners of the objects. 

IMPORTANCE OF IMAGES IN STOLEN ART INVESTIGATIONS

The image or, more generally, the visual aspect of an art object is always its prime identity.  First, because it is inherent in the art object and because, in most cases,  what the object looks like is the primary vector for identifying the work.

From this it follows that information exchanges or other communications about an art object always rely on at least one visual representation of the object
-    Printed information on the art works or, more generally , art history.
-    Media
-    Gallery and auction catalogues (printed or on the Internet)
-    Internet sites for sales between individuals
-    Etc…

Further, the popularization of digital imaging is today a reality and has led to a proliferation of visual content that is accessible to every one, whatever their professional or amateur status.

  While a number of technologies have addressed the challenge of retrieving textual information (data mining), it is not the case with images.

An effective and powerful solution for investigating images, LTU engine has become the accepted standard for both private and governmental organizations.

This complete software solution permits matching and associating images by their visual content, which allows the simple and effective investigation and identification of photographed objects.