Saturday, September 19, 2026
Science

The art heist paradox: Why better police work can lead to more stolen masterpieces

When a multimillion-dollar masterpiece vanishes from a museum, the public calls for tougher criminal penalties and better-funded police task forces. But research from Wake Forest University suggests that some of these intuitive solutions can backfire, resulting in more art crime, not less.

The art heist paradox: Why better police work can lead to more stolen masterpieces
Image: Phys.org
When a multimillion-dollar masterpiece vanishes from a museum, the public calls for tougher criminal penalties and better-funded police task forces. But research from Wake Forest University suggests that some of these intuitive solutions can backfire, resulting in more art crime, not less.

Originally published at Phys.org

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