A recent report by Europol has highlighted a changing trend in museum theft, from stealth to violence. Historic museum heists have involved organised infiltration of institutions and the elaborate replacement of artifacts with replicas.
In contrast, a string of recent high profile cases has involved more violent smash and grab techniques focussed on high value materials, gold, silver and jewels. The Louvre in Paris, the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) in Vienna and Dutch Drents Museum in Assen are among many institutions who have born the brunt of this new wave of violent theft.
The changing profile of museum theft perpetrators
“The use of violent means could indicate the involvement of perpetrators with a new profile, distinct from those traditionally engaged in cultural property crimes. Unlike typical cultural goods traffickers, who usually avoid violence and specialise in organised property crime or the theft of cultural goods, these individuals often have histories of involvement in other types of crime.”
- Europol (2026), Changing tactics, changing targets: the evolving nature of museum heists, Europol Spotlight Report series, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
The report found that precious metals and jewellery were the preferred targets because of their increasing value and the ease with which gold and silver could be melted down and jewels removed from their settings. And that a wider spectrum of criminal actors are looking at museum precious collections and displays as low-risk, high profit targets.
What can be done to prevent museum thefts?
A complimentary publication from the EU Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN) published in 2022 recommends a two-pronged approach; First to improve security rigour within exhibition planning and, second, to reduce the resale potential of cultural artifacts which limits the reward and deters theft in the first place.
We reported last year on the spike in precious metal value which has precipitated the focus on gold, silver and jewels as targets for theft. While material value can never eclipse the cultural value of historic artifacts and national treasures, the material value of gold, silver and jewels is not insignificant in contrast with ceramics, paintings, works on paper, gilded, or non-precious artifacts of similar cultural worth.
The recommendations of the 2022 report which focus on security rigour highlight potential for museum security to be likened to a castle with defensive rings around the most precious objects. Walls and windows, security barriers and bag checks, alarms and sensors alongside well trained staff and security personnel all play a key role in preventing criminal access and dissuading the “Smash” aspect of accessing the objects. Few of the measures mentioned in the report prevent the subsequent “Grab”.
Bespoke mounts for display, security and theft prevention
It is in preventing, or slowing the Grab where bespoke object mountmaking can provide a double service of security as well as elevating the display and appreciation of a piece.
Security mounts can be deployed for a variety of reasons to protect objects on open plinths from accidental knocks, or to secure artworks on display when being presented aboard yachts, or in homes and museums at risk of seismic activity. Even items safely behind glass are subject to the constant vibration of heavy footfall and nearby traffic.
In the case of preventing museum theft, alongside alarms and security system triggers, a mount can be designed to hold an object securely and require expert disentangling, or a concealed release mechanism to delay the progress of a thief reducing the risk to high volumes and increasing their time and potential to be apprehended by security and law enforcement.
A recent heist in Villena, Spain reported in the Guardian, triggered an alarm at 5.20am and the thieves were gone by 5.24am taking with them sixty six mostly gold items. Any effort to slow the progress of thieves can help increase the chance they are apprehended.
If you would like to discuss security mounts for your treasured collection or an upcoming exhibition installation, click here to email our Managing Director & Head of Exhibitions and Mountmaking, Kevin Smith ACR to discuss your requirements.
Further Reading:
Plowden & Smith Bespoke Mountmaking
Plowden & Smith Installation Consultancy
EUCPN (2022). Preventing theft from museums: security and recovery measures. Brussels: EUCPN.
Bronze Age Treasure Stolen in four-minute Spanish museum heist – Guardian