British police believe that the abduction in December 2005, the sculpture of artist Henry Moore “Polulezhaschaya figure” pereplavlena been scrapping for 1 500 pounds

British police announced that they were able to discover one of the most notorious crimes in the UK in the field of art - the kidnapping dvuhtonnoy bronze sculpture «Polulezhaschaya figure» work by Henry Moore (Henry Moore). They believe that this work, which was included in ten most wanted works of art in the world and costs about 3 million pounds, was simply pereplavlena as scrap for just £ 1 500.

«Polulezhaschaya figure» was stolen in December 2005 from the estate of sculptor «Perry Green» Hertfordshir in the county, which now is Henry Moore Foundation. From there, the criminals took her to the truck. Chief Inspector of Police John hertfordshirskoy Hamfris (Jon Humphries) explained that, apparently, the sculpture has suffered «irreparable damage» Almost immediately after the abduction. The investigation found that in December 2005 it was transferred through resellers scrap in the city Dagenem to other scrap yards in Essex. Soon, she was transported from the British Isles, probably in Rotterdam, and then further east - perhaps in China. This happened despite the efforts of the representatives of Interpol, tracing the appearance of suspicious objects similar to this large sculpture, in all ports.

John Hamfris added that it is estimated that criminals are likely able to help out over the sculpture three meters in length and height of two meters of 1 500 pounds, while the Henry Moore Foundation invited her to return to integrity and preservation of 10 thousand pounds.

Director of the Foundation by Henry Moore, Richard Kalvokoressi (Richard Calvocoressi) said that the theft of the sculpture is still for him «the subject of deep regret». He also added that after the abduction of security measures on the territory of the Fund have been considerably strengthened.

Over the past three years, the number of thefts of sculptures, exhibited to the public, has risen by 500 percent! This told the Vice Chairman of Association of Public Monuments and Sculpture (Public Monuments and Sculpture Association, PMSA) Lt Ian (Ian Leith). Police and art experts believe that a big part of their re-fuse to scrap , and the other part through the black market into the hands of illegal collectors. According to Ayana Lita, the search for stolen works of the lack of accounting information makes it difficult for them by local authorities and cultural institutions. Because of this, to know exactly what items are missing, it is simply impossible.

somehow to remedy the situation PMSA currently creating online databases of the works exhibited in public places. Unfortunately, however, they have already encountered several problems due to lack of funding.

material produced Catherine Onuchin, AI

Sources: guardian.co.uk , artinvestment.ru