Key Takeaway
EU police agency says shift could point to involvement of new criminal networks focused on specific artefactsRobberies 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 EuropolThe EU police agency said that while museum thefts…
Published August 24, 2026 · Category: News
Overview
EU police agency says shift could point to involvement of new criminal networks focused on specific artefacts
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
Details
The EU police agency said that while museum thefts were generally seen as a non-violent form of organised property crime, member states had detected a recent shift “towards violent and forceful methods” that could point to the involvement of new criminal networks focused on specific cultural artefacts.
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Source
Originally published at www.theguardian.com.
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EU police agency says shift could point to involvement of new criminal networks focused on specific artefactsRobberies 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 EuropolThe EU police agency said that while museum thefts were generally seen as a non-violent form of organised property crime, member states had det
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This story was reported by The Guardian World.