Art Crime

Art and cultural property crime—which includes theft, fraud, looting, and trafficking across state and international lines—leads to billions of dollars in losses every year.

Art Crime Team 

The FBI Art Crime Team, made up of special agents from across the country, is coordinated through the FBI’s Art Crime Program at FBI Headquarters. 

Agents on our Art Crime Team:

  • Address art and cultural property crime cases in assigned geographic regions 
  • Receive specialized training in art and cultural property investigations 
  • Assist in art-related investigations worldwide in cooperation with foreign law enforcement officials and FBI legal attaché offices 
  • Receive support from U.S. Department of Justice special trial attorneys

Since its inception in 2004, the Art Crime Team has recovered more than 20,000 items valued at over $900 million. 

The National Stolen Art File (NSAF)  

The National Stolen Art File (NSAF) is an online database of stolen art and cultural property. Law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad submit stolen objects to the NSAF. 

You can also access the NSAF database in the palm of your hand using our National Stolen Art File app.

An intricate Italian mosaic was among the thousands of items recovered by the FBI at Don Miller's home in 2014.

What should you do if you discover art has been stolen from your gallery, museum, or other institution? 

  • Contact your local police department immediately
  • Protect the scene of the crime—do not let staff or visitors into the area to disturb evidence
  • Determine the last time the objects were seen and what happened in the area, or to the objects, since that time
  • Gather documents, descriptions, and images of the missing objects and provide to law enforcement
  • Keep in touch with law enforcement for investigation updates