Gold, gems and Renoir: France's museums grapple with a wave of smash-and-grab thefts

Museums across France are currently facing a series of rapid, smash-and-grab thefts targeting high-value historical artifacts and artworks. In one documented incident in eastern France, two individuals wearing wigs utilized a sledgehammer and a hammer to breach a display case, successfully stealing a 2,500-year-old gold necklace in less than four minutes.

These incidents highlight an ongoing security challenge for French cultural institutions, which are contending with coordinated robberies involving multiple masked perpetrators. The thefts underscore the vulnerability of museum displays to swift, forceful entry tactics.