The Independent — Culture Crime News

Return of looted artefacts to Africa

(Uganda; United Kingdom)

Dominic Muwanguzi (2022). Return of looted artefacts to Africa. The Independent. 23 September.

Years later, Chickasaw remains returned to Mississippi home

(United States of America)

Associated Press (2021). Years later, Chickasaw remains returned to Mississippi home. The Independent. 30 March.

German police make 4th arrest over Dresden jewelry heist

(Germany)

Associated Press (2020). German police make 4th arrest over Dresden jewelry heist. The Independent. 20 December.

France should sell Mona Lisa 'for €50bn' to cover coronavirus losses, tech CEO suggests

(France)

Adam White (2020). France should sell Mona Lisa 'for €50bn' to cover coronavirus losses, tech CEO suggests. The Independent. 19 May.

Nazi art theft: How Hitler's art dealer amassed looted paintings to save his own skin

(Germany)

Michael Glover (2017). Nazi art theft: How Hitler's art dealer amassed looted paintings to save his own skin. The Independent. 8 November.

The Cactus Poachers of Phoenix who are Ruining the Arizona Desert

(United States of America)

Fiona Tapp (2017). The Cactus Poachers of Phoenix who are Ruining the Arizona Desert. The Independent. 14 September.

Art dealer who stole celebrity portraits of the Rolling Stones, Princess Diana and Bob Dylan jailed for four years

(United Kingdom)

Rod Minchin (2017). Art dealer who stole celebrity portraits of the Rolling Stones, Princess Diana and Bob Dylan jailed for four years. The Independent. 13 September.

British Museum evacuated: Controlled explosion of unattended vehicle carried out after 'security concern'

(United Kingdom)

Rachel Roberts (2017). British Museum evacuated: Controlled explosion of unattended vehicle carried out after 'security concern'. The Independent. 21 July.

Greece offers ancient archaeological wonders in exchange for Elgin Marbles

(Greece; United Kingdom)

Ian Johnston (2017). Greece offers ancient archaeological wonders in exchange for Elgin Marbles. The Independent. 14 March.

New Dead Sea Scrolls cave filled with ancient artefacts discovered for first time in 60 years

(Israel)

Bethan McKernan (2017). New Dead Sea Scrolls cave filled with ancient artefacts discovered for first time in 60 years. The Independent. 9 February.

Does Aleppo prove that we westerners should keep the world's antiquities?

(Syria)

Robert Fisk (2016). Does Aleppo prove that we westerners should keep the world's antiquities?. The Independent. 1 December.

'It's bizarre and appalling' - Vehicles get stuck in well-known historic gate everyday

(Ireland)

Catherine Devine (2016). 'It's bizarre and appalling' - Vehicles get stuck in well-known historic gate everyday. The Independent. 28 November.

Fake antiquities flood out of Syria as smugglers fail to steal masterpieces amid the chaos of war

(Syria)

Patrick Cockburn (2016). Fake antiquities flood out of Syria as smugglers fail to steal masterpieces amid the chaos of war. The Independent. 6 September.

How art detective Arthur Brand recovered two multi-million pound pieces of stolen art

(Netherlands)

Matilda Battersby (2016). How art detective Arthur Brand recovered two multi-million pound pieces of stolen art. The Independent. 3 August.

McDonald's advertising agency accused of plagiarising artist's viral cows video

(United Kingdom)

Kate Nelson (2016). McDonald's advertising agency accused of plagiarising artist's viral cows video. The Independent. 2 August.

German tourists scale Colosseum in night time stunt

(Italy; Germany)

Alexandra Sims (2016). German tourists scale Colosseum in night time stunt. The Independent. 1 August.

First-ever legal bid for return of Elgin Marbles to Greece thrown out by European Court of Human Rights

(Greece; United Kingdom)

Ian Johnston (2016). First-ever legal bid for return of Elgin Marbles to Greece thrown out by European Court of Human Rights. The Independent. 19 July.

MPs introduce Bill to return 'Elgin Marbles' to Greece 200 years after the UK decided to buy them

(United Kingdom; Greece)

Ian Johnston (2016). MPs introduce Bill to return 'Elgin Marbles' to Greece 200 years after the UK decided to buy them. The Independent. 11 July.

Ancient Egyptian statue of Sekhemka disappears into private collection in 'moral crime against world heritage'

(United Kingdom)

Ian Johnston (2016). Ancient Egyptian statue of Sekhemka disappears into private collection in 'moral crime against world heritage'. The Independent. 9 May.

Pompeii recruits army of spies to root out Mafia corruption and shoddy renovation work at the ancient site

(Italy)

Michael Day (2016). Pompeii recruits army of spies to root out Mafia corruption and shoddy renovation work at the ancient site. The Independent. 25 March.

World War I message that told troops conflict was over is stolen

(United Kingdom)

Dean Kirby (2016). World War I message that told troops conflict was over is stolen. The Independent. 10 March.

Museums spending too little to prevent artefacts being stolen from their collections, expert warns

(United Kingdom)

Cahil Milmo (2016). Museums spending too little to prevent artefacts being stolen from their collections, expert warns. The Independent. 1 March.

Rathkeale Rovers: How an enthusiastic gardener and his Leylandii trimmings helped to bring gang leaders to justice

(United Kingdom)

Paul Peachey (2016). Rathkeale Rovers: How an enthusiastic gardener and his Leylandii trimmings helped to bring gang leaders to justice. The Independent. 29 February.

Why the UK replica furniture market is about to be hit by new copyright laws

(United Kingdom)

Tim Willis (2016). Why the UK replica furniture market is about to be hit by new copyright laws. The Independent. 15 February.

Justin Bieber apologises for 'mooning' on ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico

(Mexico)

Olivia Blair (2016). Justin Bieber apologises for 'mooning' on ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico. The Independent. 12 February.

Facebook removes image of Evelyne Axell's 'Ice Cream' because it is 'suggestive content'

(General)

Jack Shepherd (2016). Facebook removes image of Evelyne Axell's 'Ice Cream' because it is 'suggestive content'. The Independent. 11 February.

Stolen art tracking companies ALR and ARG embroiled in 'bizarre' legal row

(United Kingdom)

Nick Clark (2016). Stolen art tracking companies ALR and ARG embroiled in 'bizarre' legal row. The Independent. 28 January.

Odyssey Explorer: Cyprus to examine suspect cargo of antiquities from offshore supply ship

(Cyprus; Lebanon)

Cahal Milmo (2016). Odyssey Explorer: Cyprus to examine suspect cargo of antiquities from offshore supply ship. The Independent. 16 January.

Istanbul explosion: 10 dead and 15 wounded in suspected Isis 'suicide bombing' in Sultanahmet Square - as it happened

(Turkey)

Samuel Osborne (2016). Istanbul explosion: 10 dead and 15 wounded in suspected Isis 'suicide bombing' in Sultanahmet Square - as it happened. The Independent. 12 January.

Nuremberg: Germany's dilemma over the Nazis' field of dreams

(Germany)

Tony Paterson (2016). Nuremberg: Germany's dilemma over the Nazis' field of dreams. The Independent. 2 January.

'Nighthawks': Tracking the criminals plundering ancient sites with the latest equipment

(United Kingdom)

Cahal Milmo (2015). 'Nighthawks': Tracking the criminals plundering ancient sites with the latest equipment. The Independent. 30 December.

Taylor Swift accused of hypocrisy for using artist's design without permission, credit or fee

(United States of America)

Christopher Hooton (2015). Taylor Swift accused of hypocrisy for using artist's design without permission, credit or fee. The Independent. 16 December.

Historic England on a mission to locate publicly subsidised art that has disappeared from view

(United Kingdom)

Cahal Milmo (2015). Historic England on a mission to locate publicly subsidised art that has disappeared from view. The Independent. 15 December.

Mali manuscripts: Nations treasure trove of ancient books saved from jihadists are once again at risk

(Mali)

Kim Sengupta (2015). Mali manuscripts: Nations treasure trove of ancient books saved from jihadists are once again at risk. The Independent. 26 November.

UK still a safe haven for dirty money, study finds

(United Kingdom)

Jim Armitage (2015). UK still a safe haven for dirty money, study finds. The Independent. 23 November.

'Mungo Man': Bones of Australia's 42,000-year-old man returned to Aboriginal tribes for burial

(Australia)

Kathy Marks (2015). 'Mungo Man': Bones of Australia's 42,000-year-old man returned to Aboriginal tribes for burial. The Independent. 7 November.

Unionist parties in censorship row after demanding removal of painting showing 'Orangemen in KKK clothing'

(United Kingdom)

Nick Clark (2015). Unionist parties in censorship row after demanding removal of painting showing 'Orangemen in KKK clothing'. The Independent. 6 November.

Farmer faces arrest after refusing to tear down mock castle he built without permission and hid behind straw bales

(United Kingdom)

Matthew Moore (2015). Farmer faces arrest after refusing to tear down mock castle he built without permission and hid behind straw bales. The Independent. 22 October.

Squatter 'makes $300,000 by selling off art collection' from San Francisco mansion

(United States of America)

Tim Walker (2015). Squatter 'makes $300,000 by selling off art collection' from San Francisco mansion. The Independent. 21 October.

Sophisticated gangs using drones to target church roofs for their lead

(United Kingdom)

David Connett (2015). Sophisticated gangs using drones to target church roofs for their lead. The Independent. 9 October.

'Islamic militant' becomes first person ever charged with destruction of heritage sites

(Mali)

Matilda Battersby (2015). 'Islamic militant' becomes first person ever charged with destruction of heritage sites. The Independent. 1 October.

Trevor Noah calls Isis 'capitalist hypocrites' for selling stolen artifacts to the US

(United States of America; Iraq; Syria)

Justin Carissimo (2015). Trevor Noah calls Isis 'capitalist hypocrites' for selling stolen artifacts to the US. The Independent. 30 September.

Nazi 'gold train': Polish Army start digging but men who originally claimed find say efforts are 'pointless'

(Poland)

Rose Troup Buchanan (2015). Nazi 'gold train': Polish Army start digging but men who originally claimed find say efforts are 'pointless'. The Independent. 29 September.

£1.5m ancient Greek statue looted from Libyan heritage site 'must be returned'

(Libya; United Kingdom)

David Mercer (2015). £1.5m ancient Greek statue looted from Libyan heritage site 'must be returned'. The Independent. 2 September.

Dismaland: Palestinian artist thrown out after protesting against Israeli works

(United Kingdom)

Chris Green (2015). Dismaland: Palestinian artist thrown out after protesting against Israeli works. The Independent. 26 August.

Taiwanese boy takes a tumble in museum and punches a hole in a painting worth $1.5 million

(Taiwan)

Michael Segalov (2015). Taiwanese boy takes a tumble in museum and punches a hole in a painting worth $1.5 million. The Independent. 25 August.

Egypt in crowd-funding campaign to save ancient statue sold by UK museum

(United Kingdom; Egypt)

Ian Johnston (2015). Egypt in crowd-funding campaign to save ancient statue sold by UK museum. The Independent. 23 August.

BBC among broadcasters to repeatedly breach Ofcom broadcasting code over funded content

(United Kingdom)

Ian Burrell (2015). BBC among broadcasters to repeatedly breach Ofcom broadcasting code over funded content. The Independent. 17 August.

Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst dealers investigated as buyers left with nothing

(United Kingdom)

Paul Gallagher (2015). Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst dealers investigated as buyers left with nothing. The Independent. 2 August.

Palestinian artist's work to go on display in London after Channel 4's Jon Snow smuggles it out of Gaza

(Palestine; United Kingdom)

Nick Clark (2015). Palestinian artist's work to go on display in London after Channel 4's Jon Snow smuggles it out of Gaza. The Independent. 31 July.

Rare Rodin sculpture stolen during $1 million Beverly Hills heist recovered in London

(United Kingdom; United States of America)

Matilda Battersby (2015). Rare Rodin sculpture stolen during $1 million Beverly Hills heist recovered in London. The Independent. 9 July.

Bronze statue worth £40,000 stolen in brazen daytime raid in Mayfair

(United Kingdom)

Paul Gallagher (2015). Bronze statue worth £40,000 stolen in brazen daytime raid in Mayfair. The Independent. 8 July.

Hôtel Drouot auction house removal men and auctioneers to stand trial for alleged art thefts

(France)

Doug Bolton (2015). Hôtel Drouot auction house removal men and auctioneers to stand trial for alleged art thefts. The Independent. 8 July.

'We didn't really think we'd get away with it': The astonishing story of how two young Irish men completed an audacious £7m art heist

(United Kingdom)

Cahal Milmo (2015). 'We didn't really think we'd get away with it': The astonishing story of how two young Irish men completed an audacious £7m art heist. The Independent. 22 May.

Elgin Marbles: Greece should take UK to court over sculptures, claim human rights lawyers

(Greece; United Kingdom)

Ian Johnston (2015). Elgin Marbles: Greece should take UK to court over sculptures, claim human rights lawyers. The Independent. 12 May.

Curator calls for time limit on returning art looted by the Nazis

(Austria)

Adam Lushner (2015). Curator calls for time limit on returning art looted by the Nazis. The Independent. 30 March.

HMS Victory recovery engulfed in controversy as Labour MP accuses key players of 'scam'

(United Kingdom)

Cahal Milmo (2015). HMS Victory recovery engulfed in controversy as Labour MP accuses key players of 'scam'. The Independent. 3 February.

Mystery as 100 brains go missing from the University of Texas

(United States of America)

Lizze Dearden (2014). Mystery as 100 brains go missing from the University of Texas. The Independent. 3 December.

Mother Goddess auction: Christie's halts sale of 'stolen' $1m Bronze Age pagan icon after Sardinia campaigns for its return

(Italy; United States of America)

Michael Day (2014). Mother Goddess auction: Christie's halts sale of 'stolen' $1m Bronze Age pagan icon after Sardinia campaigns for its return. The Independent. 2 December.