THE PROPERTY STOLEN INCLUDES ARTICLES DISCOVERED DURING ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS OR BAS-RELIEFS DETACHED FROM MONUMENTS, OBJECTS USED IN RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES, PAINTINGS, SCULPTURE, AND CHURCH PROPERTY. MANY THEFTS ARE COMMITTED IN ISOLATED OR BADLY PROTECTED PLACES SUCH AS ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION SITES, PRIVATE HOMES AND CASTLES, ART GALLERIES AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MUSEUMS. OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, THE NUMBER OF THEFTS HAS INCREASED. OFFENDERS ARE COMMON BURGLARS OR SPECIALIZED ART THIEVES. ORGANIZED CRIME CIRCLES OR RECEIVERS HOLDING POSITIONS THAT GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO SELL STOLEN WORKS ARE INVOLVED. IN THE CASE OF FAMOUS WORKS OF ART, OWNERS MAY BE BLACKMAILED INTO PAYING A RANSON FOR THEIR RETURN. SPECIAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, INTERGOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENT COOPERATION, AND COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION ON THEFTS ARE BEING DEVELOPED. PHOTOGRAPHS FOR IDENTIFICATION, RAPID INVESTIGATION, AND THE MARKING OF PROPERTY CAN HELP IN STOLEN ART RECOVERY. COOPERATION WITH INTERPOL, UNESCO, THE CUSTOMS COOPERATION COUNCIL, AND ICOM IS NECESSARY. PREVENTION INCLUDES MUSEUM ELECTRONIC DEVICES, IDENTIFICATION PROGRAMS, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND MORE SEVERE PENAL LAWS. (AOP)