PARMA, Italy: European cultural institutions face serious security gaps, with a 2024 survey finding that only one in four had emergency plans and nearly half lacked video surveillance, while a French parliamentary report in May highlighted a lack of resources and preparation to protect artworks and artifacts.

Italy faces challenges because its heritage is spread across hundreds of towns and institutions.

On March 22, two men wearing head torches entered the Fondazione Magnani Rocca museum near Parma through a forced window. They removed works by Cézanne, Renoir and Matisse, worth about 9 million euros, and passed them to an accomplice. The raid took less than three minutes. A fourth man distracted the custodian by setting off a fire extinguisher as the alarm sounded.

"Whatever could go wrong, did," said Stefano Roffi, director of the museum's foundation.

The robbery was one of several thefts in France, Italy and Spain since last year's Louvre heist in Paris. The crimes have raised concern that smaller museums, with fewer resources, are increasingly targeted.

Works by Antonello da Messina disappeared from a Sicilian museum in August. Two Renoirs were stolen in France the following month. In Spain, thieves took historic gold coins from museums and a Bronze Age treasure near Alicante.

Italy has more than 4,400 museums and institutions, according to statistics agency ISTAT. Spain has about 1,500, while France has more than 1,200 with official "Musées de France" status, alongside smaller collections.

Antonella Pinna, head of the Italian committee of the International Council of Museums, said technology alone could not protect collections. The council published security guidelines with Italy's Culture Ministry and the Carabinieri in 2015. Staff must also respond when alarms sound.

In Sansepolcro, Tuscany, the civic museum displays four works by Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca. After the Louvre robbery, Carabinieri officers recommended more cameras, longer CCTV storage and stricter bag checks. The town adopted the advice.

Many smaller museums depend on local authorities and limited budgets. Security consultant Florence Imbert said local authorities ran 85 percent of small French museums. In July, France announced a 33-point security plan, backed by 30 million euros over three years.

Italy's Carabinieri recorded 17 museum and gallery thefts in 2025, up from 14 in 2024. Europol said thefts were becoming more forceful and increasingly targeted precious metals, gemstones and other valuable objects.

Paintings are harder to sell than gold because they cannot easily be melted down. Thieves may hide stolen works, use them in ransom demands, or sell them privately. Recovery and investigations can also leave museums with high costs.

The thefts have renewed debate about insurance. Many major state museums rely on government guarantees rather than commercial policies. Insurance specialist Filippo Guerrini-Maraldi said art theft had become a greater concern. Insurers are exploring AI tools to scan CCTV for suspicious behavior.

Museum leaders must improve protection without making institutions difficult to enter. Imbert said museums should remain welcoming. Julien Volper, a conservator at Belgium's Africa Museum, said vulnerable treasures should be displayed only when adequate security is in place.

In August, the Carabinieri recovered all three stolen Parma works from a cardboard box in an apartment. Five Moldovan nationals were arrested. Investigators said the suspects had failed to find buyers in Eastern Europe and Russia.

The paintings have returned to the museum. Roffi called it a homecoming and said the theft prompted support in Italy and abroad. The museum now has round-the-clock guards, funded by a local cheese consortium. The crime was seen as an attack on shared cultural heritage.