Art Theft and Forgery

Art theft involves illegally taking artworks, such as paintings or sculptures, with the intent to sell, display, or profit from them, often disregarding rightful ownership. Forgery is creating or modifying artwork to deceive or fraudulently pass it off as an original or authentic piece, typically to make money. Both crimes harm artists, collectors, and cultural heritage by undermining trust and authenticity in the art world. They often involve elaborate schemes and require expertise to detect, with stolen or forged artworks sometimes resurfacing years later on black markets or auction houses.