Guns, axes, explosives: violent museum heists are on the rise, says Europol
Europol reports a rise in violent museum heists across Europe, noting that criminals are increasingly using weapons and explosives to target specific cultural artifacts. This shift suggests the involvement of new, less structured criminal networks that recruit locally via social media.
Why it matters
The change in criminal methodology poses a significant threat to cultural heritage preservation and requires new security strategies for museums and galleries.
Armed police guarding the recovered helmet of Coțofenești in April after it was stolen from the Drents Museum in the Netherlands. Armed police guarding the recovered helmet of Coțofenești in April after it was stolen from the Drents Museum in the Netherlands. Museums Guns, axes, explosives: violent museum heists are on the rise, says Europol EU police agency says shift could point to involvement of new criminal networks focused on specific artefacts
Prefer the Guardian on Google Robberies at European museums are becoming increasingly violent, with thieves brandishing guns, assaulting staff and using sledgehammers, axes and even explosives to smash their way into buildings and display cases, according to a report by Europol
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