By Reda Gilytė, Kristina Karlonė, LRT TV, LRT.lt.

After jewellery worth millions of euros – including an emerald and diamond necklace once gifted to Napoleon’s wife – was stolen from the Louvre on Sunday, Lithuanian museum directors say the incident underscores the need for continuous investment in security.

For safety reasons, Lithuanian museums do not disclose which of their exhibits are the most valuable. But Marius Pečiulis, head of the Lithuanian Museums Association, said institutions across the country invest heavily in both technology and staff.

“All museums, without exception, have around-the-clock personnel, security systems, alarms, and sensors that detect break-ins or window damage,” Pečiulis said, adding that larger museums also maintain contracts with private security firms.

The M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art in Kaunas, which houses more than 350,000 works, has endured the turbulence of history while preserving some of Lithuania’s most prized exhibits. Director Virginija Vitkienė said the museum has never faced an attempted theft but continues to strengthen protections.

“Before Čiurlionis’ anniversary, we reviewed and reinforced all systems,” Vitkienė said. “Because of high visitor interest, we also hired more staff – several employees are assigned to each hall, and often several more during international exhibitions.”

Read more: LRT.LT