do most stolen art work pieces get recovered?

Question

the really famous expensive art pieces

Answer 1

Actually, most famous stolen art gets recovered. The reason it does is simple enough. Famous stolen art is simply hard for a crook to sell because of it's fame. When Munich's 'The Scream' was stolen several years ago the thieves were basically stuck with the famous painting because no one wanted to buy such a famous work of art because they knew if they did they could never show it, display it or ever hang it in their own homes (or even re-sale it) because once it was seen by anyone the buyer would have to give it back. The thieves who took 'The Scream' tried for two years to find a buyer and couldn't. The stolen painting was finally recovered when someone accidentally came across it where it was being hiden.

Often when famous works are stolen the thieves try the extortion ploy of saying they will destroy the art if the owner doesn't pay a ransom. This has proven to be much more effective in getting any money from the stolen art works.

Mid-range, and lesser known works by masters that are in private collections are a better bet to steal because these are rarely seen by the public at large and the buyer is less likely to be discovered. Also, the lesser known works don't always have owners who can make valid claims to the ownerships of the art.

Answer 2

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/arttheft/arttheft.htm
http://www.interpol.int/Public/WorkOfArt/Default.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_theft

My understanding is that most "high end " art theft is commissioned... unscrupulous individuals who are willing to pay thieves to steal specific works of art... and it is a mixed bag whether these individuals are caught or not caught.

Interpol, the FBI and other agencies have had notable successes in recovering some works...

an additional problem is the damage that occurs to the works during the theft. frequently the works are cut out of the frame with a razor knife ... doing substantial damage to the work.

Answer 3

no not really. do a google search for stolen art. you'd be SURPRISED. what happens is, most art thieves use their connections to find buyers THEN they steal them. the few cases where you see a piece recovered is because someone talked or the idiots weren't able to sell so they returned them.