Guns, axes, explosives: violent museum heists are on the rise, says Europol
Summary
Europol reports that robberies at European museums are becoming more violent, with thieves using weapons like guns, axes, and explosives. These crimes often target valuable items such as gold, jewellery, and ancient artefacts, and involve new, loosely connected criminal groups.Key Facts
- Museum thefts in Europe are increasingly violent, involving weapons and explosives.
- Thieves target precious metals, jewellery, and ancient Chinese porcelain.
- New criminal groups often recruit locally through social media and act without strong connections.
- Some museum robberies involve assaults on staff and threats to visitors.
- In January 2025, Dacian artefacts were stolen in the Netherlands but later recovered.
- A 2024 heist in Paris involved thieves using baseball bats and axes to steal gold and diamond items.
- The October 2025 Louvre theft involved breaking windows, threatening guards, and stealing jewellery worth about €88 million.
- Europol suggests some criminals see museum heists as a profitable, low-risk crime and may rent out thieves for such jobs.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
