Tesoro de Villena stolen from Alicante museum in rapid raid

The Tesoro de Villena, one of Europe’s most significant Bronze Age gold collections, was stolen from the Museo de Villena (MUVI) in Alicante during an express raid early Thursday morning. The theft, described by officials as a highly coordinated and professional operation, reportedly took only between three and four minutes. Thieves gained entry by breaking through museum windows using brute force.

The collection, dating to approximately 1000 BC, includes 11 gold bowls, 28 bracelets, and three gold bottles, along with silver and iron pieces. It is considered one of the most important gold collections from the Bronze Age, comparable to the treasures of Mycenae.

The Guardia Civil and Judicial Police are currently investigating the crime, analyzing security camera footage and cordoning off the area to reconstruct the event. The museum’s alarm was triggered around 5:16 AM.

In separate criminal activity in Cuenca, the Guardia Civil arrested two individuals, aged 24 and 42, for the theft of tools from a hotel warehouse. The suspects were apprehended after a citizen reported an individual loading tools into a vehicle. One of the detainees was already subject to an active judicial warrant in Valencia.