Thieves in southeastern Spain have stolen one of Europe's most valuable prehistoric gold collections in a lightning-fast museum robbery that lasted just four minutes.
The raid took place early Thursday morning at the Villena Museum in the province of Alicante. According to town officials, the security alarm went off at 5:20 a.m. when intruders entered the building through a window. By 5:24 a.m., the thieves had fled with 66 historic objects, leaving local residents and historians devastated.
The stolen items belong to the famous Treasure of Villena, a collection of Bronze Age artefacts dating back to around 1000 BC. Discovered in a dried riverbed in 1963 by archaeologist José María Soler, the trove includes 29 gold bracelets, 11 bowls, and three bottles. Experts recently discovered that some of the items were forged from rare meteoritic iron, making them even more historically unique.
While the historical and cultural value of the treasure is incalculable, the raw gold alone is worth an estimated €1.7 million (£1.45 million). The thieves left behind only a few items, including three silver vessels, a single bracelet, and part of a ceremonial staff known as the "Kingfisher staff."
Villena Mayor Fulgencio Cerdán expressed deep grief over the loss. "We are absolutely devastated," he said, noting that the treasure represents the identity and wealth of the community.
Police suspect the heist was carefully planned in advance. Shortly before the break-in, a separate alarm went off at a nearby sports centre, which authorities believe was triggered deliberately to distract police.
The robbery is part of a troubling rise in high-profile museum heists across Europe. Police agencies note that organized criminal networks are increasingly targeting cultural treasures using fast, aggressive tactics. Authorities in Spain are currently conducting an investigation to track down the stolen artefacts and identify the perpetrators.