Angle: Wave of Art Thefts Leaves Small and Regional Museums in Europe Struggling to Boost Security
Art thefts are surging across Europe, with poorly guarded small and regional museums becoming targets for criminal groups.Summary
In March, thieves broke into the Magnani-Rocca Foundation museum near Parma, northern Italy, and made off with works by Cezanne, Renoir and Matisse in just three minutes. Since last year's Louvre theft, similar burglaries have hit regional and smaller cultural institutions across France, Italy and Spain—a trend researchers call the "Louvre effect." A French Culture Ministry survey found only a quarter of cultural institutions had emergency or risk-response plans, and about half lacked even security cameras. Italy faces particular difficulty because its cultural heritage is dispersed among many towns, and small, locally funded venues struggle to afford security. France announced a 30-million-euro, three-year security plan for regional museums. Famous paintings are hard to convert to cash, so stolen works are often hidden or used as ransom leverage, though the insurance industry now treats art theft as a major risk. Experts stress balancing security with public access, with some arguing precious works should be displayed only under adequate protection. The Parma works were later recovered and five Moldovan nationals arrested.
(Source：Reuters)