Gang of Thieves Stealing Antique Books Across Europe Caught by Police

A criminal gang has been apprehended by European authorities for stealing rare antique books worth €2.5 million from libraries across Europe. The group, consisting of nine Georgian nationals from Georgia and Lithuania, is believed to have collaborated in the theft of at least 170 valuable books, including works by renowned Russian literary figures such as Alexander Pushkin and Nikolai Gogol.

Europol, the EU Agency for Law Enforcement, revealed that the thieves targeted national and historical libraries in nine European countries, including Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Switzerland. The criminals would visit these libraries under the guise of academic interest, requesting to examine rare books in person. They would then meticulously measure the books and take photographs before returning them.

Subsequently, the thieves would return to the libraries days, weeks, or even months later, replacing the original books with high-quality counterfeit versions. In some instances, the gang resorted to breaking into libraries to carry out their thefts. The investigation involved over 100 officers in 27 locations and received support from authorities in 10 different countries.

Thanks to the swift action of law enforcement, more than 150 stolen books have been recovered, with efforts underway to determine their provenance. The arrests mark a significant victory in the fight against cultural heritage crime and the preservation of valuable literary works for future generations.