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Antique Theft
It comes as no surprise to me that art
theft, according to Interpol, is now the
fourth largest criminal activity after
drugs, money laundering and illegal arms
trading. Antiques theft is also on the up.
As fine objects rise in value and
information about their worth becomes more
accessible on the internet, the number of
"qualified" criminals inevitably
increases.
A Charles X golden bronze clock
stolen in France
I was involved in a case just before
Christmas. I had received a phone call
from a terribly distressed elderly lady,
who told me that she and her husband, the
Colonel, had returned from visiting their
daughter and grandchildren in East Anglia
to find their house had been burgled and a
number of antiques stolen. I arranged to
visit the couple to offer any advice I
could.
As I walked around their charming
cottage I could see the empty spaces where
longcase clocks had stood, pictures had
hung and porcelain been displayed. These
intruders had shown no interest in the
television, hi-fi or any other electrical
equipment. They knew what was there, how
much it was worth and, most frustratingly,
where to sell it.
Marble bust stolen in Australia but
recovered in London
I asked the couple if they had any
photographic record of the stolen items.
The elderly lady confessed that they
hadn't, while the Colonel swore for the
umpteenth time and muttered something
about elephant guns and guts for
garters.
A good photographic record of
possessions that might appeal to a burglar
is essential. Walk round your house
photographing clocks, pictures, jewellery,
furniture and silver. Record their size,
any distinguishing features and, wherever
possible, keep copies of purchase receipts
and valuations. A carefully placed
inventory number - the identification mark
on the inside of a drawer or the back of a
picture - will always help in a
search.
'Lane by Moonlight'
by John Atkinson Grimshaw
Value £80,000
Stolen in London
A number of independent bodies
specialise in recording and searching for
stolen art and antiques. The Art Loss
Register and Trace are probably the
largest. The Antiques Trade Gazette, the
industry weekly, frequently publishes
pictures and descriptions of recently
stolen goods.
Armed with photographs of your stolen
items, you can contact local auction
houses and dealers. They should be as keen
to trace your stolen property as you are.
Handling stolen goods, knowingly or not,
results in a spot of bother no matter who
you are. Send a copy of the pictures to
the local newspaper, as greater exposure
of the stolen objects should make it more
difficult for them to change hands. But
don't lose hope if you have no record of
what has been stolen. A recent victim
provided the Art Loss Register with a
rough drawing of the longcase clock she
had had stolen. The Art Loss Register was
able to match her drawing with a picture
of a clock coming up for sale at an
important London auction. The clock was
withdrawn and returned to its owner.
Articles stolen from a listed building in
London
Keep your insurance valuations
up-to-date. Although money cannot ever
match sentimental value, there is no
reason why you should be out of pocket.
The art markets fluctuate, so have a
revaluation every four to five years. The
elderly couple probably had more than
£30,000 worth of art and antiques
stolen - yet a moth-eaten valuation
document found lurking in a bottom drawer
insured the lost items for just
£5,000.
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