Analysis of Recent Art Crimes
Nikos Passas, a Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Northeastern University, discusses art crimes and the diminishing consequences for such acts.
Case Study: Louvre Event
- The group involved in the Louvre heist used simplistic methods to bypass advanced security systems.
- They conducted the crime during daylight hours, managing to steal items within approximately seven minutes, and escaped using e-bikes.
- The ease with which they bypassed the security systems is noteworthy.
Composition of Criminal Groups
- The visible perpetrators are those who execute the theft, but there may be invisible accomplices providing inside information through connections or bribery.
- The stolen items' high value suggests potential involvement of affluent clients or individuals who ordered these articles.
- Art crime networks often operate with minimal regulation, involving individuals from diverse economic backgrounds.
Mapping the Underworld Economy
- Major financial hubs like London, Switzerland, New York, Dubai, and Beijing are also centers for art collection.
- Art-rich countries, often vulnerable due to conflict or colonial history, are sources of stolen art.
- Participants range from diplomatic figures to private collectors, with a small portion of stolen art recovered and returned.
Financial Dynamics of Transnational Art Crimes
- Art laundering occurs in art and financial centers, with money moving through complex financial mechanisms to avoid detection.
- Techniques include real estate, derivatives, imports and exports, cryptocurrency, and trade-related money laundering.
Globalisation and Criminogenic Asymmetries
- Globalisation increases interdependencies between diverse societies, creating opportunities for misconduct through asymmetries.
- Asymmetries lead to 'lawful but awful practices,' where activities legal in one country are criminal in another.
- Lack of international cooperation and increased nationalism weakens enforcement, leading to a phenomenon termed 'global anomie.'
- The reduction in deterrence suggests that crime can pay, particularly when influenced by power asymmetries.
