After jewellery worth millions of euros – including an emerald and diamond necklace once gifted to Napoleon’s wife – was stolen from the Louvre on Sunday, Lithuanian museum directors say the incident underscores the need for continuous investment in security.
For safety reasons, Lithuanian museums do not disclose which of their exhibits are the most valuable. But Marius Pečiulis, head of the Lithuanian Museums Association, said institutions across the country invest heavily in both technology and staff.
“All museums, without exception, have around-the-clock personnel, security systems, alarms, and sensors that detect break-ins or window damage,” Pečiulis said, adding that larger museums also maintain contracts with private security firms.
The M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art in Kaunas, which houses more than 350,000 works, has endured the turbulence of history while preserving some of Lithuania’s most prized exhibits. Director Virginija Vitkienė said the museum has never faced an attempted theft but continues to strengthen protections.
“Before Čiurlionis’ anniversary, we reviewed and reinforced all systems,” Vitkienė said. “Because of high visitor interest, we also hired more staff – several employees are assigned to each hall, and often several more during international exhibitions.”
Speaking from France, Rita Pauliukevičiūtė, director of Lithuania’s Museum of Ecclesiastical Heritage, said her French colleagues have been increasingly alarmed by what she described as a “wave of museum thefts”.
“What is most shocking is that thieves are not stealing for artistic or historical value but for materials – melting down gold or removing precious stones,” she said.
According to Pauliukevičiūtė, some French museums have even stopped listing the materials of their exhibits in catalogues. Lithuanian museums have not yet adopted that practice but remain discreet about the value of their collections.
Security at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius was upgraded seven years ago when treasures from Dresden – valued at more than €100 million – were temporarily displayed there. One jewellery piece alone was worth €16 million. After the items were returned to Germany, they were later stolen in the notorious 2020 Dresden Green Vault heist, though most of the collection was eventually recovered.
“Even though more than €10 million had been invested in Dresden’s security, believed to be the safest in Europe, the theft still happened,” said Grand Dukes Palace director Vydas Dolinskas. “That shows museums must invest continuously.”
The Vilnius museum operates its own internal security service, has an external security contract, and a direct link to the police. Dolinskas said that while visitors sometimes complain about restrictions such as bag checks or coat bans, such precautions are necessary.
“In the Dresden Picture Gallery, you may carry only a wallet and a phone in your hands – no handbags, nothing on your shoulder,” he said.
While thefts from Lithuanian museums are rare, they do occur. Three years ago, silver and amber items were stolen from the Open-Air Museum of Lithuania in Rumšiškės.
The highest-profile heist in Lithuania occurred in 2002 when burglars stole a 3.7-kilogram piece of amber – dubbed the Sun Stone – from a museum in Palanga. Considered a national treasure and having been stolen before, the stone received much media coverage and one TV channel even offered 20,000 litas (around 6,000 euros) for information about its whereabouts. The burglars were caught – and the Sun Stone recovered – when they tried to claim the award.
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