Museum robberies in Europe are becoming increasingly violent, with specialized criminal groups being replaced by temporary groups whose members are hired through social networks. Criminals are increasingly targeting gold and jewelry, Europol announced on Monday, August 24.
According to Europol, the robbery of the Louvre in Paris in October of last year was a striking example of this trend. The criminals threatened guards and visitors and stole jewelry worth 88 million euros, including the tiara of Empress Eugénie.
Over the past two years, art thieves have shifted their focus to precious metals, jewelry, and cultural artifacts that can yield higher profits, according to a report by the EU law enforcement agency.
Rising gold prices change the nature of thefts
The price of gold has increased by 85% over the past two years, as investors and central banks view this metal as a safe asset. The London Bullion Market Association, which coordinates the London over-the-counter gold market, warned that “with gold prices rising to historic levels, illegal flows and market distortions are also increasing.”
Europol noted that criminals break into premises and smash display cases using sledgehammers, axes, crowbars, and in some cases use explosives.
Traditional criminal groups relied on “deception and concealment,” had a central leader, and specialized expertise. In contrast, recent thefts are increasingly carried out by decentralized temporary groups of profit-oriented criminals. Their members are found through social networks under the “crime-as-a-service” model, the report states.
Europol also noted that criminals are increasingly targeting gold items — from nuggets and coins to jewelry. “Precious metals can be easily melted down, leaving no traces for law enforcement, which facilitates their illegal sale. Precious stones in jewelry, in turn, can be easily removed and sold separately,” the report says.
High-profile thefts of museum artifacts
In January of last year, criminals used explosives to steal a 2,500-year-old Dacian gold helmet and three ancient gold bracelets from a museum in the Netherlands. The artifacts were later found and returned to Romania, although one bracelet is still missing.
Europol also recorded an increase in the number of thefts of ancient Chinese porcelain artifacts, including vases from the Ming Dynasty, due to high demand for them.
Source: The Straits Times
