Overview
- Two men bought tickets, waited until the museum was nearly closed, assaulted the lone guard, and smashed a secured display case to seize dozens of coins.
- The 64-year-old guard activated a panic alarm, was interviewed by investigators, and was reported unharmed.
- Authorities are still determining the exact number of coins taken and their monetary value, which police said is secondary to their archaeological importance.
- State prosecutors launched a criminal investigation as Lausanne filed a damage complaint and the regional government, which owns the coins, announced plans for a criminal complaint.
- The robbery is part of a broader run of cultural-heritage thefts, including the recent Louvre case, drawing fresh scrutiny to museum security as gold prices remain elevated.