art theft
Stealing priceless paintings
Art theft is the stealing of artwork—paintings, sculptures, antiquities, or other cultural objects.
High-profile heists from museums make headlines, but most art theft involves smaller pieces from private collections, galleries, or archaeological sites.
Stolen art often enters black markets or gets held for ransom.
The FBI maintains a database of art theft cases.
- museum heistRobbery of exhibited works
- heistOrganized large-scale theft
- cat burglarThief who climbs buildings
- stolenTaken unlawfully
- smash and grabViolent quick robbery
gallery · private collection · painting · guard · security system · masterpiece · stolen artifacts · auction houses · cultural heritage · alarm · fencing · antiquity · forensic analysis · priceless · underworld · ransom · frame · illicit trade
- crimerobbery, accomplice, alibi, burglary, conspiracy
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- criminal investigationsinvestigations, crime scene, crime scenes, crime scene investigation, crime scene analysis
- theftstealing, larceny, steal, burglary, robbery
- plunderlooting, loot, booty, pillaging, spoils
- art crimestolen paintings, heist, tomb raiding