Villena launches investigation into Bronze Age treasure theft

The Villena City Council has launched an investigation commission to clarify the circumstances surrounding the theft of the Tesoro de Villena, a collection of 3,000-year-old Bronze Age gold pieces. The robbery occurred in the early hours of September 27 at the Museo Arqueológico de Villena (Muvi). The commission has summoned 17 individuals for hearings in October, including the regional Minister of Culture, Carmen Ortí, the Mayor of Villena, Fulgencio Celdrán, and various police officials.

Recent revelations have highlighted a July 2024 police report that warned of significant security vulnerabilities at the museum. The report described the facility as “a very beautiful building that is not a museum,” noting that its aesthetic design—featuring numerous large windows and doors—made it a fragile container for such valuable artifacts. The report had recommended 24-hour private security, reinforced access points, seismic detectors, and improved camera surveillance.

While the municipal government maintains that the theft was a result of criminal aggression rather than negligence, the investigation aims to unify all documentation regarding the security failures and the museum's management to ensure transparency.