Story perspectives

Thieves Steal €1.7 Million Treasure of Villena Museum

8/27/2026

Summary

Thieves Steal Treasure

Thieves stole most of the Treasure of Villena gold collection in Villena, Spain.
The alarm sounded at 5:20 am, triggering a four-minute raid.
Thieves exited the site by 5:24 am, completing the theft.
Police say the gang entered through a window using several vehicles.
Mayor Fulgencio Cerdán said most of the treasure, valued at €1.7 million, was taken, leaving villagers devastated.

Summary

Police Probe Museum

Judicial Police Unit leads probe into the province's first major museum robbery, reviewing footage to identify thieves.
The museum had no permanent overnight security staff despite housing the priceless Treasure.
Villena’s Moors and Christians Festival, starting September 4, now risks tourism losses after the theft.
Police are directing traffic and controlling crowds on the museum’s narrow streets.
The museum also safeguards the second-largest Valencian ethnographic collection.

History

Historical Context

On 21 August 1911, Louvre employee Vincenzo Peruggia stole Leonardo’s Mona Lisa, arguing it should return to Italy. Valued at about 600,000 francs, the painting remained hidden for two years until its 1914 recovery, generating unprecedented publicity that elevated the work from a scholarly curiosity to a worldwide cultural icon; by 1962 it carried a $100 million insurance valuation.

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Thieves Steal Treasure

Thieves stole most of the Treasure of Villena gold collection in Villena, Spain.
The alarm sounded at 5:20 am, triggering a four-minute raid.
Thieves exited the site by 5:24 am, completing the theft.
Police say the gang entered through a window using several vehicles.
Mayor Fulgencio Cerdán said most of the treasure, valued at €1.7 million, was taken, leaving villagers devastated.

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