World
Europol reports more violent museum burglaries across Europe
Museum burglaries across Europe increasingly involve firearms, assaults, axes and explosives, according to a Europol report published Monday. The EU law-enforcement agency says violence is often linked to operations targeting objects selected in advance. Jewellery, precious metals and antique Chinese porcelain are among the main targets. Some suspects have backgrounds in other forms of crime, while others may be recruited locally through social media or messaging apps without knowing one another beforehand. Europol is examining whether criminals from other markets see museum theft as a low-risk, high-return activity, but says more evidence is needed.