19/02/2001

Last year 199 art thefts were reported in Italy. The carabinieri stated that 5 were from museums, 20 from private and public bodies, 24 from churches and 150 from private collectors. In all 5,314 works of art were stolen, subdivided into the following: 9 antique weapons, 253 textile works, 320 bibliographical objects, 130 pieces of furniture, 15 stamps, 45 graphic works, 214 coins, 184 religious artifacts, 175 watches, 664 paintings, 1,162 archeological pieces, 160 sculptures, 1 musical instrument and 1,982 other various objects. The values were assessed with the following categories with 1,704 objects classed as irrelevant, 1,757 objects low-medium, 1,495 medium, 140 medium-high (84 of which were recovered), and outstanding for 215 objects of which 209 of this category were recovered. Also of the 130 illegal archeological excavations 2,394 people were investigated and 496 arrested. On an average, robberies concerning private collectors accounted for 50% of thefts, churches for 35%, private and public bodies for 10% and museums for 5%. In 1999 the thefts reported were 1,887, the missing objects were 22,035, the investigated people were 600 and those arrested 53. (Dorian Cara)