France's museums face surge of violent smash-and-grab thefts targeting gold and art
A spate of aggressive museum robberies in France, including a gold necklace, jewelry and Renoir paintings, has highlighted serious security gaps.
A wave of smash-and-grab raids has hit French museums, with thieves breaking cases to steal a 2,500-year-old gold necklace in Châtillon-sur-Seine, €4.5 million worth of jewelry in another museum, and two Pierre-Auguste Renoir paintings from the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer. The Renoir theft, executed in under three minutes after cutting a fence, left two other works behind. Europol notes that such robberies are becoming more violent and increasingly target gold, gems and other meltable objects.
The incidents follow the Louvre’s €88 million crown-jewel heist and a summer record of ten museum burglaries, eight involving precious metals. Museum officials, including Véronique Brumm Schaich of the Lalique Museum, are seeking funds for security upgrades, while foundation president Guillaume Poitrinal stresses the need for broader investment. Budget constraints leave the extent of state support unclear.
Why it matters
The thefts expose vulnerabilities in protecting cultural heritage and could spur costly security reforms.
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