Carmel Ventures

March 12, 2007 – MyThings Inc. has announced that Trace™, the global database of stolen valuables, is now free to individuals and the law enforcement community.

Trace (www.trace.com) is the largest international online database of stolen art and antiques, including art looted during the Nazi era (www.tracelootedart.com). Trace is also the only stolen goods database to incorporate sophisticated visual matching technology, a feature that enables highly credible search results—even when an adequate text description is not provided. 

Used today by auction houses, second-hand dealers, and police organizations, Trace is the world’s leading registry of valuable property relied upon by the fine arts trade for due diligence. It provides an online tool for anyone purchasing, trading, or dealing in valuable items to confirm in real-time whether items have been reported lost, stolen, or looted. Trace is currently used by the world’s top four auction houses, which represent more than 80% in value of the auction market.  In 2006 alone, Trace searches worldwide resulted in over 88 matches rated “possible” or “likely” to be lost or stolen art and antiquities.

Ken Bouche, Vice President of Trace commented, “We are proud to announce that the Trace service, which has always been free to police organizations, is now the only free service available to both law enforcement and consumers, giving the public unparalleled protection against purchasing or accepting stolen goods.”

Trace receives information about stolen items from more than 50 major local, national, and international data sources, including police forces and Interpol. Trace also provides a secure and anonymous resource for victims of property crime to report items as stolen, thereby increasing the chance of recovery.

– Ends –

The Trace (www.trace.com) database is the largest diverse global database of lost and stolen valuables and the international gold standard for checking the integrity of valuables online. The database covers a wide range of items, from art and antiques, to jewelry, watches, and consumer electronics. Integrating information from 50 major external sources, including the police and Interpol, Trace also contains data from the owners of valuables registered with sister website, MyThings.

MyThings (www.mythings.com) offers members private, online portfolios to manage their belongings and access relevant information and services, including valuations, accessories, downloads, insurance, warranties, and community features like forums and messaging.  MyThings serves as a trusted infomediary between buyers and sellers, delivering desired information without compromising the privacy of consumers or subjecting them to intrusive messages.

Trace.com and MyThings.com are products of MyThings Inc.  Founded in 2004, MyThings Inc. has offices in Menlo Park, California; London, England; and Tel Aviv, Israel.