How museums and galleries can protect portable exhibits from theft

High-profile museum thefts understandably attract significant attention, particularly when they involve priceless cultural objects. While incidents of this nature remain rare, the impact is felt by many.

Well-known artworks can be extremely difficult to sell on the legitimate market due to databases such as the Art Loss Register and extensive international cooperation across the art world. Unfortunately, it's likely these objects are stolen for the intrinsic value of the materials rather than their historical significance.

Every incident provides valuable lessons about how organisations can strengthen prevention and response. Criminals continually evolve their tactics, and the insurance sector must do the same. Events like those seen at the Louvre, or more recently at the Renoir Museum in the South of France encourage insurers, security specialists and cultural institutions to review emerging threats and share good practice.

They also highlight a specific vulnerability, criminals are targeting items that are portable, valuable and difficult to protect in an open public environment. Items such as gold artefacts, jewellery, precious metals and gemstones, for example, can be relatively easy and quick to remove. The speed and sophistication of these thefts demonstrate the level of planning involved. Organisations should regularly review both their physical and electronic security measures, paying particular attention to the location and protection of high-value portable items, perimeter security, access controls and staff vigilance.

Museums, galleries and attractions all vary considerably between sites, which is why an individual approach to risk management support is so important. Security arrangements need to reflect the specific building, collection and operational risks involved rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

While theft tends to generate headlines, it is only one of a range of risks organisations face. In practice, we often see more frequent and significant losses arising from issues such as fire, escape of water damage and accidental damage, including damage to items in transit. The focus should therefore remain on maintaining a comprehensive risk management strategy across all threats.

Key security considerations include:

• Position valuable portable items carefully
  Display high-value items such as jewellery, precious metals and small artefacts away from external doors and windows where possible. The further thieves need to travel into a building, the greater the likelihood they will be detected.

• Review display cabinet security
  Valuable objects should be housed in security-rated, attack-resistant display cabinets, with appropriate glazing, locks, hinges and fixings designed to withstand forced entry attempts.

• Think carefully about what is revealed online
  Virtual tours and online content can be valuable engagement tools for museums, galleries and attractions. But they should avoid inadvertently revealing the location of CCTV cameras, alarms or other security measures that could assist criminals in planning an attack.

• Assess perimeter security regularly
  Consider vehicle access, parking arrangements and potential climbing aids. Restricting access routes and increasing the distance offenders need to travel can significantly reduce opportunities for theft.

• Train staff to identify suspicious behaviour
  Those planning thefts often carry out reconnaissance in advance. Visitors paying unusual attention to security measures, entrances, exits or specific high-value objects should be reported and monitored appropriately.

• Review electronic security measures
  Intruder alarms, CCTV systems and detection technology should be regularly tested and updated to ensure coverage remains appropriate for changing risks and layouts.

• Consider the impact of building works
  Temporary scaffolding, ladders, contractors and altered access arrangements can create opportunities for criminals. Security arrangements should be reviewed whenever works are taking place.

• Regularly reassess risk as threats evolve
  Criminal tactics change over time. Organisations should periodically review both physical and procedural security arrangements to ensure they remain effective against emerging threats.

While no security measure can completely eliminate the risk of crime, there are practical steps museums, galleries and attractions can take to make themselves a less attractive target and increase the chances of detecting an attack before significant damage is done. The aim isn't to lock collections away; it's about ensuring these important cultural assets can continue to be enjoyed safely for generations to come.