Dozens of Roman-era gold coins were taken from the Roman Museum in Lausanne after two men attacked a lone security guard and smashed a locked display case. The 64-year-old guard triggered the panic alarm and is "safe and sound," but suspects remain at large. Police say the coins hold archaeological importance and are assessing their monetary value. The theft comes amid a recent spate of museum robberies worldwide.
Dozens of Roman-era Gold Coins Stolen in Lausanne Museum Heist
Dozens of Roman-era gold coins were taken from the Roman Museum in Lausanne after two men attacked a lone security guard and smashed a locked display case. The 64-year-old guard triggered the panic alarm and is "safe and sound," but suspects remain at large. Police say the coins hold archaeological importance and are assessing their monetary value. The theft comes amid a recent spate of museum robberies worldwide.
06:10 AM, 11/21/2025Culture
Dozens of gold coins dating to the Roman era were stolen from the Roman Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, after two men attacked a security guard and broke into a locked display case as the museum was closing, police said. Authorities added that the archaeological importance of the coins is clear, while their market value is still being determined.
Lausanne police said the incident took place on Tuesday evening. Two visitors who had entered after buying tickets assaulted a 64-year-old guard, overpowered him and forced open a secured showcase before fleeing with several gold coins.
"The two individuals assaulted and overpowered the guard. They then broke into a secured display case and stole several gold coins that were displayed inside,"
The guard activated the museum's panic alarm, prompting a rapid police response; he was described as "safe and sound." The suspects remained at large while investigators work to establish the exact number of items taken and their provenance.
Police stressed the archaeological significance of the stolen objects and said efforts are under way to recover them and trace any attempts to sell them on illicit markets.
Context: a rising trend of museum thefts
The Lausanne theft is the latest in a series of high-profile robberies at cultural institutions worldwide. In October, thieves used a basket lift to force open a window at the Louvre in Paris and stole jewelry estimated at about $102 million. Last month the Oakland Museum of California reported more than 1,000 items missing from its collections. In September, intruders took gold samples worth roughly $700,000 from Paris' Natural History Museum, and artifacts valued at about $11 million were stolen from the Dubouche National Museum in Limoges. Also in September, a rare 3,000-year-old gold bracelet went missing from a restoration lab at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo; authorities later said a restoration worker had sold and melted the piece.
Investigators have appealed to the public for any footage or tips and urged anyone with information to contact Lausanne police. Museum officials said they are cooperating with investigators and reviewing security procedures.