Yes, There Has Been an Uptick in High-Profile Art Heists. Here’s Why
Jewels were stolen from the Louvre. Renoir paintings have gone missing. Experts say they are part of a wave of brazen museum burglaries across Europe.
Nearly a year after precious jewels were stolen from the Louvre in broad daylight, France’s museums endured another loss of major art when thieves targeted four valuable paintings at the Renoir Museum on the French Riviera. Art theft investigator Anthony Amore notes that while heist crimes have occurred throughout history, there appears to be a recent increase in major thefts of art from museums across Europe.
Seven museums were targeted in September and October 2025 alone, according to the country’s specialist art-crime office. In Cagnes-sur-Mer, thieves broke into the former home and studio of Impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir and executed the heist in less than three minutes, using a saw to slice through the garden fence and cutting the cords holding the artworks.
French investigators have launched a national search for the perpetrators, who fled with two of the four stolen paintings. The incident bears similarities to the $100 million historic French crown jewels theft from the Louvre. Many of the heists in the past year have used a similar approach of quick, forceful entry and swift escapes, allowing thieves to vanish before police arrive, often utilizing brute force and escape vehicles like mopeds.
Investigators suggest the recent spike in major art thefts may be due to the Louvre heist capturing the imagination of criminals, as well as a perceived lack of security in less prominent museums, driven by financial constraints and the need for museums to keep up with evolving security technology.
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