In 2025, several world-renowned museums were the site of major thefts, underscoring the vulnerability of cultural heritage security. The most notorious was the theft of the Louvre Museum in Paris. Radar Armenia presents the main museum thefts that occurred in 2025 (based on data available as of December 19, 2025).
Louvre Museum theft (Paris, France, October 19)
During the daytime, when the museum was open, thieves disguised as construction workers used a loading ladder and disk cutters to steal eight pieces of the French Crown Jewels (total value: approximately €88-102 million), including Napoleonic-era jewels. The theft lasted approximately 8 minutes. 8 individuals were arrested, but the jewels have not yet been recovered.
Drents Museum Robbery
(Assen, Netherlands, January 25) Thieves entered the museum at night with explosives and stole Dacian gold artifacts (total value: approximately €6 million). The artifacts were on loan from Romania and are of cultural value. The objects have not yet been found, but the Netherlands has promised to assist in their return.
