Art
Theft Program Home
Criminal Investigative Division
America’s Criminal Enterprise
Major Theft Unit
National Stolen Art File (NSAF)
Theft Notices and Recoveries
The NSAF is a computerized index of stolen art and cultural property as reported to the FBI by law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and the world. The NSAF consists of images and physical descriptions of stolen and recovered objects, in addition to investigative case information. The primary goal of the NSAF is to serve as a tool to assist investigators in art and cultural artifact theft cases and to function as an analytical database providing law enforcement officials with information concerning art theft.
The criteria for an object to be eligible for entry into the NSAF are as follows:
- The object must be uniquely identifiable and have historical or artistic significance. This includes fine arts, decorative arts, antiquities, Asian art, Islamic art, Native American art, ethnographic objects, archaeological material, textiles, books and manuscripts, clocks and watches, coins, stamps, musical instruments, and scientific instruments.
- The object must be valued at least $2,000; or less if associated with a major crime, and
- The request must come through a law enforcement agency accompanied by a physical description of the object, a photograph of the object if available, and a copy of any police reports or other information relevant to the investigation.
All requests for searches of the National Stolen Art File must be made through a law enforcement agency in support of a criminal investigation. Individuals or organizations in the United States wanting to access the NSAF should contact their local FBI office. Foreign organizations should contact an FBI Legal Attaché office.
National Stolen Art File
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Major Theft Unit, Room 3247
935 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20535
(202) 324-4192
Fax: (202) 324-1504
