Please use the ILAB database (see below).

Also, the Art and Antiques Squad in New Scotland Yard has data on stolen goods going back to the 70s. For the last ten years, all UK crime reports on art and antiquities have been entered into a database there. Members are advised that due diligence checks may be carried out by contacting the Art and Antiques Squad, who will check their database and also if necessary the Interpol database. Please telephone 020 7230 2150 and ask for a due diligence check. This is a free service, but please note that they are a very small unit. Due Diligence Police Officers

A series of web pages has been mounted, in response to the series of thefts in recent years of early maps from libraries in North America and Europe. Enter via the menu Theft of early maps and books.

Procedure for reporting stolen books

Please continue to send security messages to the ABA office – this is to ensure consistency. Your messages will be circulated to the membership in the normal way. The ABA Office will also pass them on to the ILAB security chain and to a wide circulation in the UK including the police, the PBFA, the Art Loss Register and the major auction houses.

In addition, we will upload full details of your item/s to the ILAB Database of stolen and missing books. In 2005 the ABA Database was added to the ILAB Database, which is searchable through the ILAB website. If you wish to search for a title, you may do so by logging onto the ILAB website, going to the Booksellers Only page and typing in your user name and password. If you do not know your user name and password, please telephone the ABA Office to look it up for you. From here, you may also search for all items that you have been reported as lost or stolen over the last few years. You may make corrections or alterations to any item lost by you but please note that only the ABA Office has the authority to delete items so please contact us if you wish to do this. Any member without access to the internet is welcome to telephone the office and we will conduct searches for you.

Periodical ‘Pink Sheets’ (full listing of all items lost or stolen over a period of time) are now redundant and will no longer be produced or circulated.

February 2007