Italy fears for 'vanishing' heritage after arrests over sacking of historic library

Someone is stealing Italy's old books, and probably paintings too...on behalf of the wealthy. There's a surprise.

Fall in UK crime rate baffles experts

Oh No it doesnt. Actually, experts have lots of explanations, starting with just how suspect the statistics have become, because they dont record fraud, retail crime or internet crime adequately. Criminology isn't dead...it just smells that way!

China police bust extortion ring

I have a feeling this blog has already picked this up somewhere really obscure, but if it's reached the irish Times, then it must be worth re-posting!

Iran creates fake blogs in smear campaign against journalists in exile

Something else for your bloggers to lose sleep over. Is this state cyber-terrorism?

Latest issue of Standing Group on Organised Crime Newsletter

Volume 10 Issue 1 is out and can be downloaded from the site linked in the title to this post. New look and a new editorial team as well as a new website. More news will follow

The death of Moscow's Don: Aslan Usoyan gunned down outside his favourite restaurant

Doesnt tell us much about what illegal businesses he was involved in. Makes the point that he was a Kurd, well-connected and one of the last of the old guard.

Corleone does not belong to the Mob

The major of Corleone, Leoluchina Savona, apologized with the families of mafia's victims on 20th anniversary of Riina arrest. Corleone is a small town in the province of Palermo, Sicily, which is moslty known as the birthplace of several Mafia bosses, both fictional and real.

Dognappings: organised gangs behind a surge of dog thefts across the country

If it can be sold, it will be stolen...If it has excise duty on it, it will be smuggled. If it is banned, it will be both. Yet again, police arent interested and dont investigate. Another reason why Torygraph readers are disenchanted with the police?

Who, What, Why: Why do criminals smuggle garlic?

Same old lesson. Bring in a tax and you'll create smugglers, even of garlic!

Three more arrests over phishing scam targeted students

scam targeting student loan scheme. students asked to update bank details and accounts then raided by criminal network