[MSN] To catch an art thief. Special Agent and Towson alumnus Robert K. Wittman to give lecture on his role in solving international art crimes

[MSN]

To catch an art thief
Special Agent and Towson alumnus Robert K. Wittman to give lecture on his role in solving international art crimes
By: Krystina Lucido
Posted: 2/7/08
A famous piece of art disappears. Ever wonder who took it and why?

Robert K. Wittman, Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Art Crime Team and a Towson alumnus, makes it his life's mission to find the people who steal art and recover the pieces. He will present his lecture, "The United States vs. Art," in the Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts Thursday, Feb. 7, at 6:30 p.m.

Susan Isaacs, a professor of art history and the host of the event, heard Wittman give the lecture at another location and found out afterward that he is a Towson alumnus.

"Aside from the fact that it is entertaining, it is very enlightening," Issacs said. "He gives facts and figures, but [the crimes are] really high up there in terms of dollar amounts each year. It's right up there with all the greatest amounts of money in terms of crime."

Isaacs said that Wittman is "internationally known in terms of art crimes" and is considered the "number one expert in the world" on the subject. Wittman also focuses on the personalities of the thieves.

"There is also a lot of interesting things about the people that are taking the art," Isaacs said. "Who are the thieves? What are their characteristics? Who buys it? Where does it go? It's not what you think necessarily. He does a lot of undercover work - that's why you don't see a picture of him."

Wittman began his career in art crimes when he was transferred to Philadelphia in 1988 and began working with the FBI as a special agent where he got his first case.

"I was assigned to a case where a crystal ball was stolen from the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology," Wittman said. "It is the second largest crystal ball in the world, weighs over 50 pounds, and was owned by the former empress of China. It is now the centerpiece of the Asian gallery. It was stolen along with the sculpture of the Egyptian goddess, Osiris."

Both items were recovered in 1989 and 1990. Wittman was then sent to school for two years to study art history and ever since has been doing antique art investigations.

Wittman has been the head of multiple high-profile cases and has assisted in the capture and persecution of many thieves who have stolen pieces of art or historical documents that are valuable to both the country and the US government.

An example of a recent such recovery was one of the original 14 copies of the Bill of Rights, which also happens to be one of his favorite investigations.

"It was a really interesting document," Wittman said. "I had more fun with some other cases but …[the copy] was literally on a piece of cowhide and written out by hand and it was very interesting. I was holding a real piece of a national treasure."

Wittman speaks at museums and other institutions about his job. He tries to prevent people from becoming victims of art crime.

"Maybe I can inspire some young people to join the FBI," Wittman said. "But I also want to just educate the public on how to be a good collector and practice due diligence when buying pieces and making sure you know who you are buying from."

Admission to "The United States vs. Art" is free

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