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PROTECTING WORKS OF ART FROM THEFT AND FRAUD

NCJ Number
41408
Journal
Security Management Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: (MAY 1977) Pages: 6-9
Author(s)
T P KISSANE
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES A SECURITY SYSTEM, INVOLVING COMPUTER-ORIENTED PHOTOGRAMMETRY, THAT IS USED BY A NEW YORK BASED INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION, FOR REGISTERING AND IDENTIFYING VALUABLE WORKS OF ART AND ANTIQUITIES.
Abstract
THE PROCESS INVOLVES SPECIAL PHOTOGRAPHING OF THE WORK, SCANNING THE PHOTOGRAPH FOR UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS, TRANSLATING THE SCANNED CHARACTERS INTO DIGITAL INFORMATION, AND FEEDING THIS INTO THE COMPUTER, WHICH CREATES A PRINT-OUT OF THE SCANNED PROFILE IT RECEIVED. THIS TECHNIQUE IS COMPARABLE TO FINGERPRINTING IN FORENSIC SCIENCE, AND ACTS AS A DETERRENT TO THEFT SINCE POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION REDUCES THE MARKETABILITY OF STOLEN WORKS OF ART. FURTHER, IN THE EVENT OF THEFT OF A REGISTERED OBJECT, CHANCES OF RECOVERY ARE GREATER BECAUSE OF THE COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES....KAP