ART OBJECTS AS A TARGET OF ORGANIZED CRIME (FROM ORGANIZED CRIME - CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS - WEST GERMANY, 1974 - SEE NCJ-32125)

• NCJ Number: 32132
• Author(s): H MEHLER
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Bundeskriminalamt
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

ALL OVER THE WORLD, INFLATION HAS CAUSED PEOPLE TO INVEST IN PROPERTY AS BEING MORE STABLE IN VALUE THAN MONEY, AND THIS HAS BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY AN INCREASE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY SEEKING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS TREND.

Abstract

THUS ART OBJECTS ARE A FAVORITE MEDIUM FOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND, CONSEQUENTLY, A TARGET OF CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS, PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE EMPLOYMENT OF FRAUD BUT ALSO THROUGH THEFT. THREE CASE HISTORIES OF ILLEGAL DEALINGS IN ART OBJECTS ARE CITED. PROCESSING THESE CASES TENDS TO BE LABORIOUS AND LONG-DRAWN-OUT. ONE REASON FOR THIS IS PROBABLY THE FACT THAT GETTING AN ILLEGALLY OBTAINED ART OBJECT INTO THE HANDS OF AN HONEST (BUT GULLIBLE) PURCHASER CALLS FOR ELABORATE EFFORTS TO COVER UP THE TRUE FACTS. HENCE, UNCOVERING THE TRUE FACTS TAKES TIME AND HARD INVESTIGATIVE WORK. --IN GERMAN