European museums face surge in brazen art thefts

European museums are facing a significant increase in brazen art thefts, prompting institutions to rethink security and display protocols. Europol reports a “clear and steep increase” in museum robbery cases since 2022/2023, with criminals increasingly using forceful methods such as sledgehammers, axes, and explosives.

Notable recent incidents include a daylight heist at the Louvre in France, where thieves stole pieces of the French crown jewels. Other major thefts include the loss of €9m in artworks from the Fondazione Magnani-Rocca in Italy in March 2026, and the theft of four Renoir paintings from the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, in September 2026. Additionally, the Museum of Villenain in Spain lost nearly 10kg of gold in a four-minute robbery, and a 2,500-year-old gold torque was stolen from a museum in Burgundy.

These crimes raise complex legal questions regarding the distinction between ownership, physical possession, and custodianship. Because museums often act as custodians rather than owners, the responsibility for insurance and safeguarding invaluable works can be legally complicated when items are stolen.