MUSEUM ROBBERIES TURN VIOLENT, WITH THIEVES RECRUITED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

BRUSSELS, AUGUST 24 /SRNA-Reuters/ - Art thefts in Europe are becoming increasingly violent and are targeting gold and other valuables, with specialized criminal groups being replaced by perpetrators recruited through social media, Europol said.

"An example of this was the robbery of the Louvre Museum in Paris in October last year - the thieves threatened guards and visitors and stole jewelry worth €88 million, including Empress Eugénie’s tiara," Europol said.

According to the statement, over the past two years, art thieves have increasingly targeted precious metals, valuables and artifacts that can fetch higher profits.

Europol said that perpetrators break into premises and display cases using sledgehammers, axes and crowbars, and in some cases explosives.

"While traditional criminal groups relied on deception and concealment, had a leader and specialized expertise, more recent robberies involve decentralized, temporary groups of opportunists motivated by profit, who are recruited through social media on a ‘crime-as-a-service’ model," Europol said.